Tuesday, February 21, 2023

An appearance on GMA leads to an attack at Unregular Pizza on 4th Avenue

On Friday, the folks from Unregular Pizza were part of a "pizza showdown" segment in Times Square for "Good Morning America." 

That appearance led to an attack at the shop, 135 Fourth Ave. between 13th Street and 14th Street, on Sunday night, according to the Unregular Pizza Instagram account

Here's part of the post via owner Gabriele Lamonaca ... which also announced the launch of a crowdfunding campaign
... someone we know — led by envy, jealousy and spite — threatened us on Instagram and then came into our store and attacked us and our staff members by throwing glass shakers and ceramic objects. He also shattered our door to pieces. 

This was a traumatic experience and we hope, we will recover soon. One of our team members went to the hospital with a fractured arm. 

In the meantime, we have opened this campaign to payback for the door and medical expenses if there will be any out of pocket. Obviously, we called the police and we hope that justice will be done. These acts of violence and vandalism will not go unnoticed. We won’t let bullies take us down.
Here's a video showing the vandalism at the pizzeria...

The baton-wielding suspect fled the scene in a red Jetta, and remained at large, as of yesterday morning, police and PIX 11 reported.

Lamonaca, who previously worked at East Village restaurants Huertas and Cacio e Vino, made headlines in for his unique bartering system. He started experimenting with his pizza-making skills during the pandemic. From his Harlem apartment, he whipped up a handful of pies every week and made them available via barter. 

He opened his pizzeria on Fourth Avenue in May 2021.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can understand medical expenses, but go fund me for a door? Come on!. Certainly the business can absorb that! I that that's pushing the purpose of the go fund me principal , this business isn't in dire straits.

Anonymous said...

Not cool.

Anonymous said...

I hope the attacker is arrested & gets to cool their heels on Rikers for a week or maybe two, at a minimum. Whoever did this is a dangerous sicko and should suffer the legal consequences.

This is beyond vandalism, if one of their workers has a broken arm. This is absolutely & totally unacceptable in every way & on every level.

And this small shop does NOT deserve anything bad. I've been a customer since they opened, and they are the nicest people and without question they have the BEST pizza (made with love).

Wishing them justice, healing, and better days ahead. And I'm looking forward to reading that the perp is in custody.

Anonymous said...

Wow - not cool is right what is wrong with these people? Talk about the old $1 pizza wars on 14th. Sad

XTC said...

So Lomonaca was on TV last night and identified the guy who smashed up the place as an "old friend" from Italy. Apparently not the usual deranged/ homeless/ crackhead/ nutbag. Looks like a more personal beef from the old country.

Anonymous said...

@XTC: Whoever did it needs to be arrested, and I hope that will happen soon.

Me said...

they say it's "someone we know", so should be easy enough for cops to find and arrest him, right?

Glenn said...

We hate it when our friends become successful.

Billsville said...

This is what happens when you get even a little bit of fame. Years ago I did a number of TV appearances for a project I was involved in. Many friends were jealous, or said negative things, and I never heard from several of them again, while some friends I hadn’t heard from in years got back in touch. People get really weird when they see you enjoying success, and that’s when you find out who your real friends are, Can you imagine what real celebrities go through when they are on magazine covers and TV shows? No wonder all their best friends are usually other celebrities.People always says that it goes with the territory, but most people aren’t famous for very long, and the damage from lost friendships lasts a lifetime.

bayou said...

As my father often reminds me, "You can't count other people's money."