Owning a pizza parlor is new for Keith Wazzi.
Until May of last year, he just built them. Now he and his family co-own and operate PB Post at 1344 Garnet Ave. between Gresham and Fanuel streets.
“I’m a general contractor and I’ve probably built six or more pizzerias in the past few years,” said Wazzi. “Every time I’d build one I’d think, ‘Why not me?’”
In his newfound quest to own his own place, Wazzi noted, “It was time for me to do this. I had my eye on PB for a long time.”
Wazzi, his wife and his two boys had been discussing owning an Italian restaurant “for years.” But he said the difficulty of getting a beer and wine license in PB helped them narrow their focus.
Though pizza is its staple, PB Post’s menu offers much more.
“Besides pizza we have pastas, salads and sandwiches for lunch and dinner,” said Wazzi. “We actually sell more pasta than pizza.”
The building PB Post is in, formerly a bike shop, had been vacant for four years.
“It was a mess,” said Wazzi, which made it tailor made for his contracting talents.
“It was old, beat up and falling apart,” he said. “I rehabbed it, did everything here myself, me and my boys.”
Of his New York-style, thin-crust pies, Wazzi said, “Our pizzas are gourmet. It isn’t just pepperoni.”
PB Post’s menu proves Wazzi isn’t lying. Available pizza toppings include all the usual suspects along with jalapeno, feta cheese, fresh basil, dried oregano, garlic, artichoke hears and Canadian bacon. There are even Philly steak and barbecue chicken options on the pizza menu along with veggie, Hawaiian, white (olive oil, spinach, mozzarella and ricotta cheese) and margherita (tomatoes, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil) choices.
Meal-sized salads include garden, chef salad, greek, antipasto and Caesar.
Pastas feature spaghetti and cheese, meat and cheese ravioli, meat lasagna and chicken fettuccine Alfredo with chicken breast, fettuccine, mushrooms and Alfredo sauce. Chicken wings and gyros round out the menu along with half-pound burgers.
“It’s a whole meal,” said Wazzi of his burgers.
PB Post has a large-screen TV on the wall and a Netflix subscription for guests.
About his future plans, Wazzi commented: “We might expand and do some seating outside, put some tables there and lights and make it romantic. We’re also thinking about having birthday parties for kids.”
Of his clientele, Wazzi said it’s mostly local and mostly families, since he’s not open late at night.
“We have good customers, and the kids enjoy coming here – it’s a nice place,” Wazzi said. PB Post
1344 Garnet Ave.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
858-247-5353
pbpostsd.com