La Villa

In 1955 my Uncle Gino Branchinelli opened the family's first Pizzeria on 5th avenue in Bay ridge. He opened more locations around Brooklyn along with my Other Uncle Antonio and in 1960 started Gino's Italian Ices on 39th street as well. In the late 60's My Father Benito joined my uncle at his location in Long Beach, Long Island which opened in 1962. After 14 years there my Father left to open our original location in the spring of 1982 in Howard Beach. The Pizzeria was small with seating for only about 25-30 people, but it was always standing room only. In 1986 I decided to leave NYU business school during my senior year to help run the restaurant with the help from my sister Irene and mom, Maurina. With long hours and hard work from my family and dedicated workers, the little 35 seat pizzeria in Howard Beach became very popular. 2006 renovations expanded the restaurant’s seating to over 100 along with outdoor garden.
Mill Basin came about around 1990 with the help and partnership of a super energetic 19 year old Howard Beach kid, Louis Colello. Our second location opened in 1992 on Avenue U also small about 35 seat. . There as well we quickly out grew the location and in only a couple of years later expanded the store by moving over to the then retired Mr. Minetti’s hardware store. Not long after that did another young neighborhood kid named Frankie, join our staff and later became manager and eventually current partner at the Mill Basin store!
In early 2000, with two locations and a handful of dedicated mangers, we began scouting for an additional location. Once again we set our sights on Brooklyn and began to decide on various locations. It was no coincidence then when we discovered the current location because it felt strangely comfortable. At the time I had no idea that this was the exact area my family shopped and frequented when we lived in Sunset Park back in the 60’s and early 70’s. My mother and grandmother Filomena would shop in Park Slope and 5th ave together all the time. Our paesano Vincenzo's Butcher shop on 5th avenue was at least a once a week stop as well as the original A&S pork store founded in 1947 by Anthony Scicchitano! When news got out in the family that we were opening again in Brooklyn we received the greatest blessing from my Uncle Gino who started on 5th avenue back in 1955!
Memorial Day 2003 we opened Park Slope and to this day my mother Maurina can still be found in the kitchen making sure everything tastes just right!