Beloved Queens Pizzeria Closes Its Doors, Owner Heads To Italy

SUNNYSIDE, QUEENS – The beloved Queens pizza joint Philomena’s announced Thursday it would permanently close its doors so its resident pizzaiolo could move to Italy, the restaurant announced.

Dave Acocella, Philomena's owner and pizza-maker, shutters the Sunnyside pie shop on Queens Boulevard near 42nd Street for the last time on Friday, according to an Instagram post brimming with excitement.

"Philomena's pizzaiolo, Dave Acocella, is taking full advantage a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and moving to Naples, Italy to open a pizzeria!!!" The Post reads.

"Sure, it's a bit longer than a 7 train ride away, but think of how much more fun you will have munching on Dave's New York-style Neapolitan 12" pies in ACTUAL NAPLES!!!!"

To celebrate, Philomena's will stay open until 10 p.m. Friday so that as many people as possible can enjoy a final slice.

Nearly 100 people flocked to the post’s comments section to congratulate Acocella on the move, and to express how much they will miss the pizzeria.

"Thanks for always being a small refuge of deliciousness and hope during the depths of the pandemic," wrote one Instagrammer. "You will be sorely missed. Tanti auguri!"

Local fans aren't the only people who appreciated Philomina's. Last year, the pie shop was listed in a Food & Wine Magazine collection of the best pizzerias in New York State.

The pizzeria opened in 2018, after Acocella’s stint working at Paulie Gee's Slice Shop in Brooklyn.

Patch's attempts to find out more about Acocella were unsuccessful, as the restaurant on Friday was "slammed."

The farewell post said the owners were still working to put their feelings into words.

“Words cannot express how much these four fantastic years at 41-16 Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside, Queens have meant to us," the pizzeria workers wrote.

"We have felt the 🍕❤ every minute and we truly thank you all."