Restaurateur Filippo Genova, left, and his brother, Gaetano Genova, in front of the upcoming Genova’s Pizza Station & Take Out Kitchen at 2723 Buford Road. (Mike Platania photos)
When Filippo Genova bought a commercial building in Bon Air in 2018, he knew he had finally found an opening for his long-sought restaurant in the Southside neighborhood.
He just didn’t know it would take him four years to put the building to work.
This fall the Sicilian restaurateur is planning to open Genova’s Pizza Station & Take Out Kitchen at 2723 Buford Road.
“I’ve been eyeing this area for over 10 years and could never find anything left to buy or rent,” Genova said. “But then this opportunity came up.”
After securing the Bon Air spot, Genova’s focus quickly got diverted to his other two restaurants, Casa Italiana and Pizza Express, which he opened in the West End in 2017 and 2006, respectively.
He kicked off a dining room expansion of Casa Italiana that wrapped up in 2019, and then the pandemic came.
“We’ve been sitting on this location for four years,” he said.
The additions of a new 28-pizza capacity oven and rotisserie are among the renovations to the space.
The Bon Air spot’s menu will pull from both of Genova’s other restaurants. Pizza Express’ menu includes traditional Italian-American fare like pizzas, calzones, subs and pasta specials, while Casa Italiana is a sit-down spot serving higher-end dishes like fresh ravioli, veal marsala and grilled octopus.
“It’s a little bit of both put together. It’ll be fast for people for lunch, and we’ll have the display case with focaccias, pizza, sandwiches and sides,” Genova said. “It’s going to be fast-paced.”
The new Pizza Station – the name is an homage to the building’s past as a one-time fire station – will also house a rotisserie for chicken.
“That’s kind of new to us, it’s (something) that we can adventure on,” he said.
Though it’ll have an emphasis on takeout, the new 3,500-square-foot spot will also include a dining area and outdoor patio.
As he prepares to open his third restaurant, Genova credits his family recipes for his success.
“Our homemade sauce, it’s an old grandma recipe, and fresh dough. That’s the key, and all the love we put into it,” Genova said. “That’s where all our success comes from.”
Restaurateur Filippo Genova, left, and his brother, Gaetano Genova, in front of the upcoming Genova’s Pizza Station & Take Out Kitchen at 2723 Buford Road. (Mike Platania photos)
When Filippo Genova bought a commercial building in Bon Air in 2018, he knew he had finally found an opening for his long-sought restaurant in the Southside neighborhood.
He just didn’t know it would take him four years to put the building to work.
This fall the Sicilian restaurateur is planning to open Genova’s Pizza Station & Take Out Kitchen at 2723 Buford Road.
“I’ve been eyeing this area for over 10 years and could never find anything left to buy or rent,” Genova said. “But then this opportunity came up.”
After securing the Bon Air spot, Genova’s focus quickly got diverted to his other two restaurants, Casa Italiana and Pizza Express, which he opened in the West End in 2017 and 2006, respectively.
He kicked off a dining room expansion of Casa Italiana that wrapped up in 2019, and then the pandemic came.
“We’ve been sitting on this location for four years,” he said.
The additions of a new 28-pizza capacity oven and rotisserie are among the renovations to the space.
The Bon Air spot’s menu will pull from both of Genova’s other restaurants. Pizza Express’ menu includes traditional Italian-American fare like pizzas, calzones, subs and pasta specials, while Casa Italiana is a sit-down spot serving higher-end dishes like fresh ravioli, veal marsala and grilled octopus.
“It’s a little bit of both put together. It’ll be fast for people for lunch, and we’ll have the display case with focaccias, pizza, sandwiches and sides,” Genova said. “It’s going to be fast-paced.”
The new Pizza Station – the name is an homage to the building’s past as a one-time fire station – will also house a rotisserie for chicken.
“That’s kind of new to us, it’s (something) that we can adventure on,” he said.
Though it’ll have an emphasis on takeout, the new 3,500-square-foot spot will also include a dining area and outdoor patio.
As he prepares to open his third restaurant, Genova credits his family recipes for his success.
“Our homemade sauce, it’s an old grandma recipe, and fresh dough. That’s the key, and all the love we put into it,” Genova said. “That’s where all our success comes from.”
great but the parking at that area is abysmal
With the Pizza Hut on the corner and Joe’s Inn across the street, that’s a lot of pizza/Italian in that area. Hope they do well!