Walking into Buono’s Pizzeria, one is seamlessly transported from the bustling Wrigley neighborhood to a quiet, cozy Italian restaurant that planted its roots in Long Beach 43 years ago.
From the soft, Italian music playing overhead to the dozens of black and white photos of famous Italians looking down on customers—the restaurant begs families to scootch into its vinyl booths and make themselves at home.
For Frank Buono, who has been working in the shop through its early iterations and many expansions since he was 9 years old, the shop doesn’t just feel like home, it is home.
Frank is the eldest of the three siblings and now runs the shop with his younger brother, George. The two brothers have vivid memories of hand-mixing pizza dough, perfecting sauce, shredding cheese and baking their creations for what felt like endless hungry customers in the 1970s.
When their father Nicolaniello and mother Antonia immigrated from Italy in 1967, they brought with them a small suitcase, experience running a deli / market and hopes for a future in America. Years later, their deli and bakery in San Pedro was barely inching along, and Nicolaniello had to come up with a plan to keep the family fed.
“My dad knew how to make bread already, so he figured I can make pizza dough and we can start making pizza. It was just something he thought necessary at the time,” Frank said.
In the fall of 1973, the family pivoted from a bakery to a pizza shop, with 15-year-old Frank acting as a translator between customers and his parents while hand-kneading dough and honing his new skills.
Nicolaniello Buono and his sons George (left) and Frank (right) in the 1960s in Italy, years before opening Buono’s Pizzeria in San Pedro and Long Beach. (Courtesy of Buono’s Pizzeria) 
The Buono family sits for a classic Italian meal, years before opening Buono’s Pizzeria in San Pedro and Long Beach. (Courtesy of Buono’s Pizzeria) 
Frank Buono, owner of Buono’s Pizzeria has been crafting homemade pizzas for the community to enjoy since he was 15 years old. (Courtesy of Buono’s Pizzeria)
The original San Pedro location moved to its new location at 222 W. Sixth St. in 2019, making the Willow Street location the longest-standing Buono’s Pizzeria. The Pizzeria has been welcomed by the community with various awards and recognitions, which they honor by hosting fundraisers for local sports teams and schools, and have held Thanksgiving dinners at the Long Beach Rescue Mission in past years.
If the familial setting isn’t enough to make you stay, the food certainly seals the deal. Buono’s has been using the same fresh ingredients from two local vendors (who were not to be revealed) for its sauce and all produce needs.
Its thick-crusted pizza, covered in a generous layer of cheese and an impressive offering of toppings such as bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, fresh garlic, fresh basil, salami and more, is supremely satisfying.
The shop has stayed true to its tradition in its early days of operating as an Italian deli, as they offer its signature torpedo sandwich with the same recipe from 1965. Other sandwich options, all of which are a foot long and filled to the seams, include roast beef and cheese, a vegetarian option, tuna, meatball and cheese, pastrami and cheese, chicken parmigiana and more.
The pizzeria also boasts a wide range of other options: eggplant rolls, a picturesque antipasto salad, minestrone, over 10 pasta options and homemade cakes.
Growing up, Frank said that running the pizza shop was “the last thing he wanted to do,” as he missed out on being outside and playing as a kid to help in the restaurant. He considered a number of vocations, but the desire to expand the family business brought him back in his early 20s.
Opening the Willow Street location was Frank’s idea, as well as the location on Ocean Boulevard that will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year.
“I’m glad I made the decision when I was 22 to grow the business,” Frank said. “It’s been very good to me. I like feeding people and I like making them happy.”
Buono’s Pizzeria will celebrate 50 years of feeding the community on Nov. 13 and 14 with a variety of deals:
- 50-cent slices of pizza from noon to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- 50-cent pizza, pasta or sandwich with a purchase of a regular-priced menu item (dine-in and take-out only)
- 50-cent pint of beer, glass of wine or soda with a food purchase (limited to one dine-in purchase)
- A random raffle of 50 $50 gift certificates
The celebrations will take place at each of the three locations: 250 W. Ocean Blvd in Long Beach; 401 W. Willow St. in Long Beach; 222 W. Sixth St. in San Pedro.
Great food and a wonderful supporter of the community!