Business & Tech
Of Pizza and Politics: When is Umberto’s Coming to Bellmore?
After occupying the location formerly knows as Tommy's Village Pizza on Bedford Avenue, construction on Umberto's Pizzeria & Restaurant comes to a halt.
Long Island is famous for many things. Beaches. Traffic. Beach traffic. Somewhere down that 118-mile long list, Bellmore finds itself stuck at the intersection of two more Long Island staples - great pizza and bureaucratic red tape.
The Town of Hempstead Building Department has issued a stop work order to Umberto's Pizzeria & Restaurant, grinding renovations on their new Bellmore location to a halt.
According to the Town of Hempstead, unauthorized work on the space at 208 Bedford Ave. was undertaken without proper permits and by law had to be terminated until the proper paperwork was filed.
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The location is undergoing "significant interior alterations," according to Mike Deery, the communications director for the Town of Hempstead. "The new tenant has not filed permits yet. We've been back several times to observe the tenants breaking up concrete and installing steel girders."
Work of such significance transcends the cosmetic appearance and can present safety hazards. Proper permits and town supervision are required to ensure that "the job gets done right, and done safely," said Deery.
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Ultimately Deery expressed confidence that Umberto's would "do the right thing," adding that the town has a strong track record in resolving such matters quickly and amicably.
With 50 years of hard work and dedication to their culinary craft under the family apron, the Umberto's camp echoed that confidence.
With an accent as thick as their famous Sunday gravy, Umberto's owner Joe Barba made his case for the family business and great product before even addressing the issue at hand.
"Fifty years [of] hard work. Dedication. People drive over one hour for us. Everybody love Umberto's," he said.
Indeed, there are legions of Nassau County faithful who drive from all corners of the county for Umberto's Grandma's slices, crispy sicilian slices and countless other specialties. But those hungry diners south of the LIE have one burning question. When is Umberto's actually coming to Bellmore?
"The town, they play a little hard to get," Barba said. "We don't know what's wrong. We do everything the right way. We work it out. Once we do. Maybe three or four months. Soon we introduce Umberto's to Bellmore and everyone down there."
