SUFFERN'S FIRST FAMILY OF PIZZA
By Kevin T. Czerwinski
It's no wonder that Il Villaggio has such a familial feel to its customers. The folks that own and operate the Lafayette Avenue pizzeria and restaurant are like extended family members to most of the Village residents, many of whom are on a first-name basis with the men behind the counter.
George Beninati and his sons Anthony and Tom will celebrate their seventh anniversary as owners of Il Villaggio in June. The Beninati's have become Suffern's first family of pizza during that time, serving the Village and neighboring communities while making their eatery on Lafayette Avenue a wonderful, homey place to be.
"The people in Suffern are nice, family-oriented people," Anthony Beninati said. "They come here and we know what they want before they even say anything. We're writing down their order or putting it in the oven before most of them have a chance to say anything. They laugh because they know we know that's exactly what they wanted.
"I'll see them getting out of the car, and I know their names, so I'll be getting their order on the counter even before they come in. We've been here a long time and we know a lot of the customers. If I have to run to another store in town or down into Mahwah or Ramsey I always bump into people I know from here."
To that end, the folks at Il Villaggio are also doing their best to help out in these tough economic times. They offer a special on large pies on Monday and Tuesday for $8.25, which is $4 off the regular price, with no limit on how many pies you can buy.
"If you come in with four people, you get some drinks and for $11 you can feed the whole family," Beninati said. "We've transformed pizza night from Friday and Saturday nights to Monday and Tuesday nights. It helps people save money. I think we're the only place in the area that does that. We pride ourselves on being a family operation."
The Beninati's have been a pizza family for years. George Beninati, who was born in Italy, is 59 years old and has been making pizza since he was 16. He's owned businesses in New Jersey before moving his operation to Suffern seven years ago. Along with his wife, Mary Beninati, they have helped turn Il Villaggio into one of the Village's most successful enterprises.
"There's a nice dance loft next store, above the theater, and the parents pull up and drop their kids off before dance class because they trust us and they feel safe leaving their kids here," Anthony Beninati said. "This is a family place."
Il Villaggio has won the Rockland County Tasty and Healthy Pizza contest people's choice award and won the teen's choice award last year at The Suffern Library for the best pizza in the area. They have built quite a reputation; one based on the quality of the product and services as well as their values.
"Right now, this is what I see myself doing for some time," Anthony Beninati said. "The way the economy is, this is one of the better businesses to be in. This is better than owning a Chevy dealership right now."
Better not only for the Beninatis but the folks in the Village as well.
Free two-hour parking is available on the street in the Village while the Parking Authority's lots are free for three hours. The lot behind the Lafayette Theater and the Chestnut Avenue lot are the closest to Il Villaggio.