After years of ownership changes, Buono’s Pizza appears to be opening a new location in Gilbert, at 1652 N Higley Road #103.
The company’s second location is set to move into the former home of Zappone’s Italian Bistro in Higley Marketplace, according to a recent liquor license application. The locally owned and operated pizzeria is found in Gilbert at 1464 E. Williams Field Road, offering authentic New York and New Jersey Pizza. On top of delicious pizza, the new location will also offer calzones, stromboli, pasta, and hot and cold subs. There’s no exact timeline for the opening, considering the business still needs to be approved for proper licensing.
Buono’s Pizza has been around since 1988, when New York native Vic Buono launched the original Buono’s on the southeast corner of Dobson and Guadalupe in southwest Mesa. Eventually, the founder sold the business to Jimmy Pante, another New York native, in 1994. Then, in 2019, Pante’s son, Vinny, gave Buono’s Pizza a second life and eventually changed the name to Amici Pizza, which he continues to run along with his girlfriend. Now the father and son duo are back and are working on expanding the business.
“Jimmy and family from the ORIGINAL BUONO’S are BACK,” according to the company’s website. “At BUONO’S, we believe we stay true to NYC-style pizza by using fresh local ingredients. BUONO’S has been bringing New York-style pizza to Arizona since 1989! Just like a local NYC neighborhood pizzeria. We are an independently owned and operated pizzeria restaurant. Joining Jimmy is his fiance, Shelly, who is an Army Veteran and an ICU Nurse.”
