Pizza Man Can't Escape New Canaan Scorcher

NEW CANAAN, Conn. – If you thought Tuesday’s weather was hot, try working in a pizza shop.

Lorenzo Colella, owner of Joe’s Pizzeria, couldn't avoid the heat, even inside his Locust Avenue pizza shop. Pies still had to be made for hungry New Canaanites as the heat index surpassed 100 degrees.

“You can’t escape this thing,” Colella said, pointing to his oven and pulling a fresh cheese pie out.

Colella did manage to get some relief, drinking plenty of water and occasionally stepping to the air-conditioned customer area in front of his kitchen. The shop has had AC only about two years. Before that, working the pizzeria was nightmarish, he said. “Before we got the AC, it got up to 115 degrees in here,” he said. “People would be asking us how we handle it.”  

Even with the hot, humid weather, Colella says, business has been good. Walk-in customers will sit for a while to enjoy hot pizza away from the sun's stinging rays. And deliveries are doing well because people are opting not to grill or man their stoves. “We’ve had people say, ‘Just bring it by the pool,’ ” he said.

Colella may get to turn down the air conditioning later in the week. Forecasts are calling for temperatures to fall into the mid 80s beginning Thursday.

What did you think of Tuesday's heat? Were you one of the brave souls to be outside during the day? Let us know by leaving a comment below. You can also visit our Facebook page.

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