FOIA Photograph Information

[PolackTony]

Several years back I was staying in a hotel in Youngstown, right off I-80. My wife and I ordered pizza from some local place, don’t remember the name. Nearby, that delivered. It was terrible, perhaps the worst pizza I’ve ever had in my life. Given all the Italians in that area, I had expected much better, but apparently chose the wrong place as I didn’t know what was what. Now my wife is traumatized and will never eat pizza in Youngstown again, even though I’ve tried to convince her that there has to be better places. We pass through there frequently as we often make the drive between NYC and Chicago, so maybe I can convince her to try Avalon or one of these other places.

Is there a specific style of pizza typical of Youngstown? Or does it vary from joint to joint?

[FriendofHenry]

Several years back I was staying in a hotel in Youngstown, right off I-80. My wife and I ordered pizza from some local place, don’t remember the name. Nearby, that delivered. It was terrible, perhaps the worst pizza I’ve ever had in my life. Given all the Italians in that area, I had expected much better, but apparently chose the wrong place as I didn’t know what was what. Now my wife is traumatized and will never eat pizza in Youngstown again, even though I’ve tried to convince her that there has to be better places. We pass through there frequently as we often make the drive between NYC and Chicago, so maybe I can convince her to try Avalon or one of these other places.

Is there a specific style of pizza typical of Youngstown? Or does it vary from joint to joint?

Most likely you got a pizza from one of the several chain pizza joints in the area that delivers.Next ime try either Wedgewood, a few locations, or Avalon Downtown. I prefer a simple peppers and sauce traditional style or a greens pizza especially from the Avalon

[Stroccos]

Last time I had Sunrise pizza was about 5 years ago, and it was pretty good.

The Youngstown-Warren area has a bunch of great one-off pizza joints, I'd say my favorite's are Wedgewood Pizza (4 or 5 locations), and the Avalon Downtown. Plus plenty of others

The Avalon Downtown is very good That happens to be Michael's from the original Avalon Bar on Belmont Ave.

Same guy who wore a wire on Jeep ?

[Stroccos]

Last time I had Sunrise pizza was about 5 years ago, and it was pretty good.

The Youngstown-Warren area has a bunch of great one-off pizza joints, I'd say my favorite's are Wedgewood Pizza (4 or 5 locations), and the Avalon Downtown. Plus plenty of others

Sunrise is still decent
Wedgewood is my fav in Youngstown/ Warren lately I gotten the rose special

Never had avalon

[FriendofHenry]

Last time I had Sunrise pizza was about 5 years ago, and it was pretty good.

The Youngstown-Warren area has a bunch of great one-off pizza joints, I'd say my favorite's are Wedgewood Pizza (4 or 5 locations), and the Avalon Downtown. Plus plenty of others

The Avalon Downtown is very good That happens to be Michael's from the original Avalon Bar on Belmont Ave.

Same guy who wore a wire on Jeep ?

Yeah - Same guy that gave up Jeep

[coldshoulder]

Is there a specific style of pizza typical of Youngstown? Or does it vary from joint to joint?

Brier Hill pizza is a Youngstown specialty, taking it's name from the neighborhood overlooking an early important steel mill:

The neighborhood was the birthplace of "Brier Hill pizza", a home-style recipe with origins in the Basilicata region of Italy. Brier Hill pizza is prepared with a generous amount of thick "Sunday sauce", bell peppers and romano cheese, as opposed to the more typical mozzarella. It is one of several dishes the Youngstown area prides itself upon, in much the same way New Yorkers value their distinctive thin-crusted New York-style pizza.

Youngstown-area boss, circa 1970~1985, Vincenzo James (Jimmy) Prato originally grew up in that area and in addition to his "Two-Gun Jimmy" nickname was also known as "Brier Hill Jimmy".

Here's more history:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brier_Hil ... wErXRkjBgk

Some photo examples of Brier Hill pizza here:

https://www.facebook.com/brierhillpizza/

[FriendofHenry]

Is there a specific style of pizza typical of Youngstown? Or does it vary from joint to joint?

Brier Hill pizza is a Youngstown specialty, taking it's name from the neighborhood overlooking an early important steel mill:

The neighborhood was the birthplace of "Brier Hill pizza", a home-style recipe with origins in the Basilicata region of Italy. Brier Hill pizza is prepared with a generous amount of thick "Sunday sauce", bell peppers and romano cheese, as opposed to the more typical mozzarella. It is one of several dishes the Youngstown area prides itself upon, in much the same way New Yorkers value their distinctive thin-crusted New York-style pizza.

Youngstown-area boss, circa 1970~1985, Vincenzo James (Jimmy) Prato originally grew up in that area and in addition to his "Two-Gun Jimmy" nickname was also known as "Brier Hill Jimmy".

Here's more history:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brier_Hil ... wErXRkjBgk

Some photo examples of Brier Hill pizza here:

https://www.facebook.com/brierhillpizza/

My favorite Brier Hill Pizza was St. Anthony's on Fridays
I played poker with Jimmy Prato in a couple of RC's games in Struthers twice a week. He was quite a character

[JCB1977]

^ The Sunrise Inn on Market Street in Warren, Ohio

Heard they serve a good pizza there... Can you confirm this FOH?

Confirm this how? The name and location you can look up.
As far as Charlie goes; my Dad started taking me there for lunch when I was a teenager. That's when I met Charlie.
It's no secrete that I got to be close to Charlie when we stayed together at Charlie's Roost for deer season.
Charlie and The Sunrise was well known. I've posted several pictures here showing me together with Charlie, Michael and Jo Jo.

Is the Pizza good though? Never been.

Pizza is phenomenal. Even since Charlie hasn't been there. It's Brier Hill Style or in NY, they call it Sicilian Style. Thicker crust.

[JCB1977]

Is there a specific style of pizza typical of Youngstown? Or does it vary from joint to joint?

Brier Hill pizza is a Youngstown specialty, taking it's name from the neighborhood overlooking an early important steel mill:

The neighborhood was the birthplace of "Brier Hill pizza", a home-style recipe with origins in the Basilicata region of Italy. Brier Hill pizza is prepared with a generous amount of thick "Sunday sauce", bell peppers and romano cheese, as opposed to the more typical mozzarella. It is one of several dishes the Youngstown area prides itself upon, in much the same way New Yorkers value their distinctive thin-crusted New York-style pizza.

Youngstown-area boss, circa 1970~1985, Vincenzo James (Jimmy) Prato originally grew up in that area and in addition to his "Two-Gun Jimmy" nickname was also known as "Brier Hill Jimmy".

Here's more history:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brier_Hil ... wErXRkjBgk

Some photo examples of Brier Hill pizza here:

https://www.facebook.com/brierhillpizza/

My favorite Brier Hill Pizza was St. Anthony's on Fridays
I played poker with Jimmy Prato in a couple of RC's games in Struthers twice a week. He was quite a character

Agreed. Especially when Deemer Naples' mom made the pizza at St. Anthony's. $5 for a pie, pierogies from Teenie's tavern, I loved Fridays in Youngstown!

[coldshoulder]

Is there a specific style of pizza typical of Youngstown? Or does it vary from joint to joint?

Brier Hill pizza is a Youngstown specialty, taking it's name from the neighborhood overlooking an early important steel mill:

The neighborhood was the birthplace of "Brier Hill pizza", a home-style recipe with origins in the Basilicata region of Italy. Brier Hill pizza is prepared with a generous amount of thick "Sunday sauce", bell peppers and romano cheese, as opposed to the more typical mozzarella. It is one of several dishes the Youngstown area prides itself upon, in much the same way New Yorkers value their distinctive thin-crusted New York-style pizza.

Youngstown-area boss, circa 1970~1985, Vincenzo James (Jimmy) Prato originally grew up in that area and in addition to his "Two-Gun Jimmy" nickname was also known as "Brier Hill Jimmy".

Here's more history:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brier_Hil ... wErXRkjBgk

Some photo examples of Brier Hill pizza here:

https://www.facebook.com/brierhillpizza/

My favorite Brier Hill Pizza was St. Anthony's on Fridays


I played poker with Jimmy Prato in a couple of RC's games in Struthers twice a week. He was quite a character

Weren't Jimmy Prato (Pittsburgh) and Ronnie Crab (Cleveland) enemies in the sense each of their sides was trying to assert control in the Mahoning Valley and thus they had competing interests...? But they sat down together and played cards with you and other participants ? Did Jimmy really carry two guns ?

[FriendofHenry]

Is there a specific style of pizza typical of Youngstown? Or does it vary from joint to joint?

Brier Hill pizza is a Youngstown specialty, taking it's name from the neighborhood overlooking an early important steel mill:

The neighborhood was the birthplace of "Brier Hill pizza", a home-style recipe with origins in the Basilicata region of Italy. Brier Hill pizza is prepared with a generous amount of thick "Sunday sauce", bell peppers and romano cheese, as opposed to the more typical mozzarella. It is one of several dishes the Youngstown area prides itself upon, in much the same way New Yorkers value their distinctive thin-crusted New York-style pizza.

Youngstown-area boss, circa 1970~1985, Vincenzo James (Jimmy) Prato originally grew up in that area and in addition to his "Two-Gun Jimmy" nickname was also known as "Brier Hill Jimmy".

Here's more history:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brier_Hil ... wErXRkjBgk

Some photo examples of Brier Hill pizza here:

https://www.facebook.com/brierhillpizza/

My favorite Brier Hill Pizza was St. Anthony's on Fridays


I played poker with Jimmy Prato in a couple of RC's games in Struthers twice a week. He was quite a character

Weren't Jimmy Prato (Pittsburgh) and Ronnie Crab (Cleveland) enemies in the sense each of their sides was trying to assert control in the Mahoning Valley and thus they had competing interests...? But they sat down together and played cards with you and other participants ? Did Jimmy really carry two guns ?

RC was never a player but it was his game run by his nephew, Junior Sensitino. Turns out that JImmy played not only because he liked to play but also kept an eye on what should be going to Pittsburgh. Absolutely, Jimmy carried two snub nose 38s in his pants no holster. Jimmy was Jimmy

[Paul1921]

It's worth it to ask for better copies but they may not exist anymore given how long he has been gone. I asked for the original copies of the photographs of the 1995 Aurora, Ohio meeting between Pittsburgh and Los Angeles and was told that they had been discarded and that only the black/white xerox looking copies remained. Fingers crossed that didn't happen with the Imburgia pictures.