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Vinnie's daughter regains control of Pizza Park real estate
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Vincent's Pizza Park in Forest Hills, home of the locally known "Vinnie Pie."
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The daughter of the creator of the high-calorie "Vinnie Pie" has regained control over the Ardmore Boulevard real estate where the business started by her father has operated since 1950.
Toni Zollner, the daughter of the late Vincent Chianese, has owned the building and leased it to a franchise operator, B&C Pizza Inc. She regained control of the building at an Allegheny County Sheriff's sale today, but the sale of pizza shop equipment and furnishings was postponed until June 11.
Vincent's Pizza Park in North Braddock close to the Forest Hills border was closed suddenly by sheriff's deputies on Thursday after Ms. Zollner got a court order claiming unpaid royalties and at least one month's back rent.
B&C Pizza Inc. has leased the building since 2003 and was required to operate as a licensed Vincent's Pizza Park, according to Ms. Zollner's complaint. The licensees, who include Mr. Chianese's longtime business partner, John Bellissimo, owe more than $42,000 in unpaid royalties, the complaint says.Today's action will allow the sale of equipment to be used to pay royalties and back rent.
Ms. Zollner had terminated the license agreement in October, but B&C Pizza continued operating, according to the court suit.
The business, located at 998 Ardmore Boulevard in North Braddock, remains closed. Longtime customers loyal to the shop's topping-heavy signature pizzas, however, should not lose all hope.
While Ms. Zollner, who lives in California, declined requests for interviews, her lawyer, Frank Rapp, has said he believed a deal still might be worked out. "I don't think it's fair to say this is the demise of the Vinnie Pie at the Ardmore location," Mr. Rapp said last week. "I think it's too early to come to the conclusion there's never going to be another Vinnie Pie."
First Published May 22, 2012 1:57 pm
