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Raceway Pizza, located in Yonkers at 775 Yonkers Ave., has closed, owner Luigi Petrozza announced on social media on Wednesday, May 24.
Petrozza, whose family began the restaurant in 1971, cited his retirement as the reason for the restaurant's closing.
"Working here with my mom and dad for many, many years...it's going to be sad, but it's time for me to just let go and do what I have to do now," Petrozza said in a video posted to social media, which shows him taking one last reflective walk through the eatery.
Petrozza added that he will now take the time to take care of his grandchildren, play some rounds of golf, go to the beach, and "just hang out."
Raceway was previously brought to the nation's attention by Barstool Sports President Dave Portnoy in 2021, who reviewed the eatery's pizza and also conducted an emotional interview with Petrozza, who had been struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic at the time.
The restaurant ended up being a recipient of the Barstool Fund, which goes to benefit small businesses.
In the YouTube review, Portnoy enjoyed the eatery's pizza and awarded it a 7.4 out of 10, also reflecting on the importance of small businesses such as Raceway.
Other visitors echoed the sentiment in the comments of Petrozza's announcement on Facebook and reminisced on how beloved the eatery had become over the years.
Ken K. wrote that the restaurant had become an "icon" of Yonkers Ave.
"Your signature greeting, "Raceway Ah-Pizz" is forever etched in everyone whoever walked through your door. You are one of a kind," he wrote about Petrozza.
"Thank you for creating such wonderful memories for soooo very many people," Kristen P. of Hawthorne commented.
Petrozza himself only had sincere thanks for everyone who walked through his eatery's doors over the 52 years it was in business.
"Thank you for all the memories and all the great times we all had," he said in his video, adding tearfully, "I love everyone."
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