Restaurant news: Frequented Port Orange pizza shop welcomes new owners

One of Port Orange’s most frequented pizzerias is under new ownership.

Pizza Pazza first opened its doors in the final days of 2022 under Giovanni Spinosa — owner of Don Giovanni Contemporary Italian and Pizzeria’s Ormond Beach and Port Orange locations.

After one year in business, Spinosa announced on social media that his family handed the keys to new owners, the Failla family, who took over at the start of the new year.

“We have given our Pizza Pazza keys to a new owner, a new family that we are sure will do great on their journey with their new menus and new recipes,” Spinosa said in a Facebook post.

“We thank you! This year was short but very important to us. We came to realize that it's time for ourself and family, and there is no need for additional franchises.”

Emanuele Failla, who co-owns the eatery with his father, Massimo Failla, says taking over the shop has been an exciting new venture for his family after moving here nearly a month ago from Pennsylvania, where they own another established eatery — That’s Amore Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant in Bloomsburg.

Restaurant news: 2 new Ormond Beach restaurants close their doors for good

Originally from Sicily, the family intends to keep their ingredients as fresh and authentic as customers have been accustomed to at the restaurant — including the imported mozzarella.

“We’ve been in restaurants our whole lives, so we wanted to take a new task here in Florida,” Failla said. “We heard about Giovanni — him selling this place — so we were like, you know what, we want to take this place, change it up a little bit, and, you know, just give some good Italian food to people.”

According to Failla, the eatery plans to keep the same quality and consistency that customers knew and loved under the previous owner, with the addition of their own homemade recipes and an expanded menu more than twice the size of the original.

“We’re continuing all of the traditions (the previous owners) had, but we’re just adding a kick to it,” he said.

“Some things are going to be the same, some things aren’t, you know? But some things we’re gonna make it our way … everything is similar, and everything is fresh. We make (our dough) fresh everyday, hand-tossed. The style doesn’t change.”

According to Failla, the eatery has added a plethora of new new entrees, salads and pizzas with a variety of homemade sauces, garlic knots and more.

The restaurant’s menu features options ranging from the fettucine or gnocchi al pesto — pasta coated with a homemade pesto cream sauce — and lobster ravioli — five ravioli sautéed with shrimp, spinach, broccoli, fresh tomatoes and a homemade cream sauce — to the salmon salad — grilled salmon, spring mix lettuce, cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, red onions and carrots with an olive oil drizzling — and the Chicken Alla Massimo hot sub — grilled or breaded chicken, American cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, red onion, spinach and balsamic glaze.

The eatery’s pizza menu includes gluten-free, plain pizza and by-the-slice selections from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The menu showcases a variety of 13- and 18-inch pizzas that start at $11.99 and include selections like the Grandma — a rich layering of fresh mozzarella, homemade, slightly sweet sauce, chopped garlic, parmesan cheese and fresh basil — as well as the Firecracker — long hot peppers, breaded shrimp, fresh mozzarella and basil — and the bruschetta pizza — mozzarella cheese, marinated tomatoes and a balsamic glaze.

“We’ve added a little bit of everything,” Failla said.

“Come over and meet the new owners, you know? Give us a chance, try our food, and you will see there’s not too much difference — you’ll love (our food), too.”

Pizza Pazza is located at 3761 S. Nova Road, suite 224, in Port Orange and is open 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday – Saturday and noon – 8 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant offers free delivery within 5 miles. For information, call 386-492-7831 or visit pizzapazzapo.com.

Helena Perray is the restaurant and dining writer for The Daytona Beach News-Journal. A New Jersey native and passionate storyteller, she can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Support local journalism by subscribing

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona-area restaurant Pizza Pazza sold to new owners