There are some new and interesting guys on Johnston’s restaurant block.
Owners James Rutkovsky and Ezra Spitzer and their business partner Joe Ramos have set up a unique shop – Fat Boys New York Style Pizza – at 1426-1428 Hartford Ave., the bustling intersection of Atwood Avenue and Route 6 opposite Town Hall.
They’ve come to Johnston by way of places such as Mystic, Conn., West Chester, N.Y., and Massachusetts – as well as Johnson & Wales University’s famed College of Culinary Arts – and are armed with as much enthusiasm as an NFL rookie and the vast experience and knowledge of a five-star chef.
More impressively, perhaps, is the trio’s unique and innovative marketing plan and approach to the ever-changing food industry.
For openers, they’re going to give away two slices of pizza – cheese only – to every person that walks through their doors from the time Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena performs the official ribbon cutting ceremony tomorrow at noon through Sunday evening.
“Our goal is to give away 5,000 slices of pizza through Sunday,” said Rutkovsky, who went to Johnson & Wales for culinary arts, wound up in hospitality management and marketing and does the group’s advertising. “We want to be a good neighbor and give back to the community.”
Rutkovsky and Spitzer – who have owned other operations in North Providence, Warren and Orlando, Fla., during their many years as business partners – plan on hiring Johnston & Wales students and including Johnston High School students in their plans.
They also said they’ll do all their buying locally, whether its produce or various supplies.
“We will also make everything fresh every day,” Rutkovsky said while sitting inside the 1,200-square-foot street-side dining room, which has tables and chairs that can seat 25 or so people as well as a small counter with stools. “What we’ll do here is a little different, especially when it comes to the actual pizza crust.”
Fat Boys Pizza’s crust will be thin, crispy and hand tossed, and as Spitzer emphasized, “we’ll also have fresh bread every day.”
Even the signage at Fat Boys Pizza is an example of Rutkovsky’s clever marketing creations.
“We’ve done the awning sign in pumpkin orange and black,” Rutkovsky went on. “We like our restaurants to be bright and colorful ... we’re planning more signs and slogans to decorate these large windows. We want to bring something new, colorful and vibrant to Johnston.”
Rutkovsky, who said the trio’s business plan involves operating a restaurant that’s as family friendly as your grandmother’s kitchen, also noted: “We’re not big shots or anything even close. We just try to do everything well, every day.”
Although the restaurant’s name features the words “New York,” Fat Boys Pizza is not part of any chain-like eatery operation.
“We’re young in terms of age,” Rutkovsky said. “Lots of people don’t understand this business. They think, ‘Oh, let’s open a restaurant ... we know first-hand it’s a lot of work and long hours. But we don’t mind that. We want to become a player in the community while offering a new twist in pizza and other foods.”
Fat Boys Pizza has a host of pizza and calzone toppings, many different and delicious appetizers, specialty pizzas and calzones and hot oven grinders served on the restaurant’s hand-stretched, freshly baked bread.
“People are going to like our salads,” Spitzer said while serving two customers a Mediterranean salad. “We also have lots of different specials on our menu.”
Fat Boys Pizza has had a “soft opening” and is now ready for what Rutkovsky said “will be our big weekend.”
Fat Boys Pizza is open daily from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. to dine in or take out.
“It’s easy,” Rutkovsky said. “Just give us a call at 401-272-4242 and we’ll have your pizza ready, waiting and nice and hot.”
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