Salvatore's pizzeria opens first out-of-state location

Victoria E. Freile, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·1 min read

Salvatore's Old Fashioned Pizzeria has officially opened in the Sunshine state.

The new eatery - located in Jacksonville, Florida - will celebrate its grand opening on Tuesday. The restaurant will be known as Salvatore's Tapestry Park and will be run by Fairport native and physician Ferdinand Formoso and his wife, Elisa.

Like the other restaurants, the new Florida eatery will offer pizza, calzones, wings, salads and desserts. Patrons can dine in, take out or order delivery.

"After 45 years and 30+ locations, this is a dream come true for our Salvatore's Pizza Family," Salvatore "SoccerSam" Fantauzzo, the chain's founder, said in a news release. "I never thought that my high school home economics project would result in such a great lifetime achievement."

Franchise owner Ferdinand Formoso of Salvatore's Old Fashioned Pizzeria prepares a pizza at the new Jacksonville, Florida, eatery.
Franchise owner Ferdinand Formoso of Salvatore's Old Fashioned Pizzeria prepares a pizza at the new Jacksonville, Florida, eatery.

Most of the Salvatore's restaurants are specifically pizzerias, but Fantauzzo also owns two Donuts Delite locations in the Rochester region – which both serve doughnuts and Salvatore's pizza.

The connection between Salvatore's and the Formoso family runs deep, as Formoso's aunt and uncle have been friends with Fantauzzo for many years.

Fairport native Dr. Ferdinand Formoso and his wife, Elisa, (shown with their sons) are heading up Salvatore's Old Fashioned Pizzeria's expansion in Florida, with the chain's first store opening in Jacksonville.
Fairport native Dr. Ferdinand Formoso and his wife, Elisa, (shown with their sons) are heading up Salvatore's Old Fashioned Pizzeria's expansion in Florida, with the chain's first store opening in Jacksonville.

"Elisa and I are so grateful for the opportunity that Sam and the entire Salvatore's family has given to us," Formoso said in a news release. "This is so much more than a franchise, it's a family. This journey has been one of the most rewarding in my professional career and I look forward to opening many more locations in the future."

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Salvatore's pizzeria opens first out-of-state location in Florida