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Gerardo’s Pizza & Pasta has bid farewell to Shirley.
The pizzeria, which was opened in 2020 by longtime pizzamaker Gerard Lombardi, has announced its closure at the corner of William Floyd Parkway and Montauk Highway.
“We would like to announce that Gerardo’s is permanently closed,” reads a Facebook post published Monday morning. “It’s a sentimental topic because we’ll miss all our devoted customers.”
The ownership has stated that they will be opening a new restaurant/pizzeria in Commack, but they haven’t disclosed the exact location yet. Check back with greaterlongisland.com for more details.
Lombardi had dreamed of opening his own place since graduating from Shoreham-Wading River High School and had previously worked at other pizzerias.
“I wanted a place of my own, and it took me about 10 years, but I finally got there,” Lombardi previously told GLI after opening in January 2020.
Starting a new business is hard enough, and adding a global pandemic on top of it makes it even more challenging. Gerardo’s was also hit by a tornado a year after its opening, which tore part of the roof off the building.
Through it all, Lombardi wanted to express his appreciation for all the support he had received.
“We greatly appreciate the support of our community members through trials and tribulations,” ownership wrote on Facebook. “From our humble beginnings during the COVID-19 Pandemic, we stood tall. Thank you for dining with us!”
Top: Interior of the now Gerardo’s Pizza & Pasta in Shirley. (Credit: Facebook)
