Vento's Pizza in Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood closes Saturday
Al Vento says goodbye to family business that started 67 years ago
Al Vento says goodbye to family business that started 67 years ago
Al Vento says goodbye to family business that started 67 years ago
The line inside Vento's Pizza stretched from one side to the other on Friday, with customers hoping to get one last slice as the Pittsburgh staple prepares to close on Saturday.
"We sold about 60 in an hour and a half today, plus our stromboli and all kind of crazy stuff. It's a true testament to the people of East Liberty that they take care of their own, and I'm really happy that they've done that for all my years of business with my family and my dad," said Al Vento, whose late father started the pizza shop 67 years ago.
Vento's father also helped to create Franco's Italian Army, which started a 50-year relationship between the Vento family and Pittsburgh Steelers legend Franco Harris.
Vento said Harris' passing was a part of his decision to close the pizzeria that has been in the city's East Liberty neighborhood for decades.
"Franco Harris was with me Dec. 19, and Dec. 20, he died," Vento said. "That took a piece of my father away and a piece of him, so I said to my wife, you know, 'Here today, gone tomorrow. It might be time for me to go.'"
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Vento's closed nine hours early when they ran out of food on Friday. The shop will open at 11 a.m. Saturday, a little later than normal, and when they run out of food again, the doors will be closed for the final time.
But if you think that means Vento will give out their sauce recipe...
"Never," he said. "It goes down with me."