Talk about a passion for pizza.
After spending years as a cashier, delivery driver, and working in the kitchen at Joey’s Pizza in Lynbrook, Josseline Jimenez wanted to do even more. So, she bought the place from her former boss.
“It kind of just fell into my lap at the right time,” Jimenez told Greater Long Island. “I was thinking about opening my own cafe, but it’s so hard to start from zero. When I heard Joey was looking to retire late last year, I told him I was interested and it all worked out.”
In March, the restaurant officially became hers.
“It’s a joy to own this place now,” she said. “I guess this is what I was meant to do.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tucked down a side street off Sunrise Highway, Joey’s had been a community staple on the South Shore since the early 1980s. But with new ownership came a few updates.
Jimenez and her business partner Reyna Castillo renamed it AP Pizza & Cafe, added more seating, and mounted a TV on the wall. They’ve also expanded the menu — but the original recipes remain the same, and prices haven’t gone up.
“I feel like that’s only fair to our customers,” said Jimenez. “I want to keep the same customers but also bring in new clientele. Everybody is hungry to make money. But I don’t want to be that person and make the food something that people can’t afford.”
AP Pizza is also continuing the tradition of offering budget-friendly daily specials.
- On Tuesdays, whole pies are under $10.
- On Thursdays, you can score a hero for as little as $5.
- And on Fridays, shrimp dinners go for just $6.
“Joey built something that helped the community, and the community helped him back,” Jimenez said. “I want to keep doing that. I don’t want to drive our customers away.”
The perfect recipe for success.
IF YOU GO
- AP Pizza & Cafe is located at 5 Huntington Avenue in Lynbrook.
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Mondays.
