Our Story

In the sun-drenched coastal town of Carini, Sicily, a young Giuseppe Basile grew up surrounded by the aromas of fresh herbs, wood-fired ovens, and the timeless recipes of his family. Food was more than sustenance — it was an act of love, a gathering of generations around a table, a language spoken without words.

At nineteen years old, Giuseppe made the courageous journey to America, carrying with him little more than the recipes etched in his memory and a dream of sharing the flavors of his homeland. He arrived in New York, and eventually settled in the close-knit community of Moosic, Pennsylvania — a place that reminded him, in its own way, of the warmth and spirit of the villages back home.

In 1971, Giuseppe — known to everyone as Joe Grande — opened the doors of Grande Pizza in the Kmart Shopping Center on Birney Avenue. From the very first pie that came out of his oven, the people of Moosic knew something special had arrived. Joe poured everything into his craft: hand-stretched dough, sauce made from his family's recipe, and the freshest ingredients he could find.

What began as a small pizzeria quickly became a cornerstone of the community. Families came not just for the food, but for the experience — the warmth of Joe's greeting, the way he remembered every regular's name, the feeling that you weren't just a customer, you were family.