A longtime Phoenix pizza restaurant that has served its community for decades is now preparing to shut its doors as redevelopment plans move forward to replace it with a larger convenience store.
Raffaele’s Pizza, located near 19th Avenue and Glendale Avenue, has been a neighborhood staple since the 1970s. The restaurant sits in a strip mall behind a 7-Eleven, but that space is now part of a planned redevelopment project that would expand the convenience store. If the project proceeds as expected, the building housing the pizza shop will be demolished to make room for the new development.
The owner, Billy Burns, said he was recently given notice to vacate the property just a few weeks ago. For him, the closure is deeply personal, as the business has been central to his life for decades. Burns started working at the restaurant when he was only 15 years old and has spent more than 30 years helping run and grow it. He described the emotional toll of the situation, explaining that he has sacrificed major life moments, including missing funerals and weddings, to dedicate himself fully to the business.
The restaurant itself has a long history tied to its founders, Antonitta Aquino and her husband Raffaele, who opened the shop in 1974 with the goal of bringing New York-style pizza to the area. Over the years, it became a well-known spot for locals, including Washington High School alumni like longtime customer Tom Flood, who said he has eaten thousands of pizzas there and is so familiar with the staff that they know his order before he even asks.
While the redevelopment plans are not fully finalized, city officials confirmed that applications have been submitted for both demolition of the existing structure and expansion of the nearby convenience store. Burns said he understands the perspective of the property’s new owners, acknowledging that they are making business decisions, but that does not lessen the impact of losing something he has built his life around.
He also shared how difficult it has been to explain the situation to his young son, saying the closure is not due to failure as a father or business owner, but simply because the business is being forced out.
The pizza shop is expected to remain open until May 30, giving customers a limited time to visit before it closes. Despite the shutdown of this location, Raffaele’s Pizza will continue operating at its second location near 59th Avenue and Peoria Avenue.
The property owner who sold the land for redevelopment said it is difficult to see small businesses like this disappear, but expressed hope that the changes will ultimately make the area safer and cleaner.
Source: AZFamily
