“This is economic development at its best,” Mayor Joseph Polisena said before officially welcoming Uncle Tony’s Pizza & Pasta to Johnston. “We’re ecstatic you’re here. This place is going to become a staple in our community.”
Polisena was among those who took part in Tuesday’s ribbon cutting ceremony at Uncle Tony’s newest location at 45 Putnam Pike (Route 44).
Uncle Tony’s was founded by Edward A. Carosi, who has been in the restaurant business since he opened his first eatery at 1856 Smith St. in Providence back in 1969.
But never before in his company’s history has Uncle Tony’s had a look like the company’s sparkling new Johnston store.
What Carosi, his son Edward R. Carosi and Manny Vieira did on Putnam Pike was turn the former J&D Restaurant into a stunning 6,000-square-foot family eatery. It took six months to build, and the project cost approximately $1 million.
“This place is absolutely gorgeous,” Johnston Police Chief Richard S. Tamburini, a personal friend of Edward and Jo-Ann Carosi, said during a tour after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “This is without question a welcome addition to our town.”
Johnston’s newest eatery is done in what Carosi called “Uncle Tony’s green, hardwood floors, and other wood creations that in some areas replaced greenhouse-like glass windows and even created a warmer, upscale look.”
The walls are adorned with authentic pictures depicting Providence’s Federal Hill in the days of a bygone era. The tables and booths – specially made by Warwick-based Randy Shatz and Company – are also done in wood.
The wooden booths have padded seats done in a special shade of burgundy that blends nicely with the hardwood floors.
“This design is even nicer than we thought it would be,” said the younger Carosi. “Like our builders, Randy Shatz did a phenomenal job.”
However, that didn’t occur until construction workers gutted the former business and filled up and trucked away five 30-yard dumpsters.
The Carosis have seating for 220 people inside Uncle Tony’s, which has several areas where people can enjoy private parties, luncheons or dinner. There’s also seating for 35 people outside on a new patio that will some day become enclosed so people can enjoy outdoor dining year round.
The new Uncle Tony’s has the same classic menu as the restaurant’s other locations.
“We use nothing less than the best quality products,” Carosi explained. “We only buy the best [products]. We don’t skimp, and we’ve used the same techniques for 45 years. We don’t worry about the cash register ringing, either. We don’t vary from our total formula, and we treat people like they are family.”
Uncle Tony’s, which also has locations in Cranston and East Providence, is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 10 p.m. For take out, call 401-231-8111.
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