From left: Buono family members Georgio, Oreste (Andrew), Teresa, Antonia and Frank
Buono’s Authentic Pizzeria, with locations in San Pedro and Long Beach, will celebrate its 40th anniversary year with 40-cent specials and other festivities during the week of Nov. 11—14.
The anniversary comes at a poignant time, as family patriarch, Nicolaniello Buono, recently passed away. He left Italy to come to America in 1967 with the dream of sharing numerous Italian recipes from his ancestors with the growing population of Italians who settled in San Pedro. Upon arrival, he became a business partner with his parents, who had opened Buono’s Market and Deli three years earlier. By 1973, he had transformed it into the restaurant where it still resides 40 years later. His family, including his wife Antonietta and children Frank, George, Oreste “Andrew” and Teresa, opened two locations in Long Beach.
“As we celebrate our 40th anniversary by appreciating our customers, we also remember the wonderful legacy our father and grandparents left us and the whole community,” said Buono’s owner/general manager Frank Buono. “Aside from their authentic Italian recipes that we use daily, they had a very strong work ethic and were generous to their family and the community.”
Buono’s flagship restaurant in San Pedro will kick off the week with 40 percent off its entire menu. At designated times during the week, pizza slices will be 40 cents. In Long Beach, customers can celebrate with a 40 cent glass of wine, beer or soft drink. All customers will receive an exclusive 40th anniversary keepsake certificate and access to a variety of special offers and contests on Buono’s Facebook page where a 40-day countdown to the anniversary has already begun.
Buono’s community involvement and its longtime patrons will also be spotlighted. One such customer, Frank Zaragosa, used to go to the San Pedro restaurant with his father 38 years ago and has been a customer ever since. “When my own son’s ball team came in first place, I couldn’t think of a more fitting place to celebrate such a milestone,” Zaragosa said. “It reminded me of when my dad and I used to go to Buono’s together.”
According to Gavin Mc Kiernan, founder of the Long Beach Neighborhood Foundation, Buono’s has been much more than a restaurant throughout the 40 years.
“The Buono family has actively served in leadership positions for several nonprofits and donated generously of their time, resources, and even provided valuable strategic advice to nonprofits like ours on what it takes to run a successful organization,” Mc Kiernan said. “Everything they do they do with a big heart and with genuine care for their community. It shows in their restaurants and in the causes they support.”
Buono’s has received numerous community awards during the past four decades, among them the 2010 Small Business of the Year in the 54th District, the Hero and Pride of Partnership Awards, and a People’s Choice Winner as Best Pizza in San Pedro and Long Beach. Buono’s is often recognized for its ongoing partnership with local schools, especially for its Annual Cultural Poetry/Art Contest in which thousands of youth explore the Italian culture and are recognized and celebrated, in person by the Buono family, for their creative talents.
Source: Keri Gee Semmelman PR
More Information
BuonosPizza.com
facebook.com/BuonosAuthenticPizzeria
