Fast-growing chain acquires another Long Island restaurant

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Uncle Joe’s Famous Pizzeria has acquired another Long Island pizza shop. 

The chain acquired Papa Nick’s Pizzeria in Bellport Village, adding a fourth restaurant to its fast-growing roster. 

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

Papa Nick’s first opened in Lake Ronkonkoma in 1987, relocating to 117C South Country Road in Bellport Village 13 years later under the ownership of Sal and Alissa Tauriello. 

“As we look back on the past 24 years we are filled with gratitude for the support and friendship you have shown us at Papa Nick’s Pizzeria,” Sal Tauriello said in a written statement. “It has been an incredible journey serving you and we feel truly thankful and blessed for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful community.”

The Tauriellos say they plan to spend more time with family and will permanently relocate to Florida this summer. 

“As we pass the torch to the team at Uncle Joe’s Famous Pizzeria, we do so with confidence that they will continue to uphold the standards of delicious food and courteous service that you have come to expect,” Alissa Tauriello said in the statement. “We trust that they will treat you all like family, just as we have strived to do.” 

The Bellport Village acquisition is the latest in the brand’s expansion plan after Uncle Joe’s was acquired in June 2023 by Hamptons Brands, an investment group led by Hampton Bays residents Tana Gerber, artist and historical curator, and Scott Gerber, CEO of Community.co and BrandNext. In January, Uncle Joe’s acquired Fusili in Miller Place and a month later acquired Wading River Pizza in Wading River.

“We are excited to introduce the Bellport, Brookhaven, East Patchogue and Mastic communities to the specialties that have made Uncle Joe’s a trusted, family-friendly brand for over 50 years”, Tana Gerber said in the statement. 

Uncle Joe’s Famous Pizzeria takes over Papa Nick’s immediately. 

“Uncle Joe’s intends to preserve the Tauriello family’s commitment to culinary excellence and high-quality customer service that Papa Nick’s fans have come to know and love since its founding in Lake Ronkonkoma in 1987,” Scott Gerber said in the statement. 

Uncle Joe’s was founded by Giuseppe “Joe” Sciara, who immigrated to the United States from Sicily in 1958 with his wife, Frances and opened his first restaurant in Bay Shore in 1968. Later, Sciara opened Uncle Joe’s in Hampton Bays and the restaurant has been a popular spot for locals and visitors to the East End for more than half a century. 

Under its new ownership, the Uncle Joe’s chain has focused on expanding through acquisition of pizzerias with owners seeking to retire. The chain’s owners say they will announce several additional acquisitions in Suffolk County in the weeks ahead.