Frank’s Roman Pizza closes, ending 38-year run in Asheville

Jason Sandford November 1, 2016

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Frank’s Roman Pizza, which is credited with bringing New York-style pizza to Asheville in 1977, has announced that it has closed its Tunnel Road store. From Frank’s on Facebook:

Nov 1, 2016. Restaurant Closing Announcement: We want to thank Asheville for many years of support, and especially our loyal customers for enjoying the best pizza in town. We have invested our heart and soul in to this business and met so many amazing people. However, it is time for us to take our leave from the business to explore life and experience a new adventure. It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing that Frank’s Roman Pizza at 90 S. Tunnel Rd is now closed and the business is for sale. If you are interested in purchasing the business for yourself, please contact Broker Rick Maerkle at (828) 989-1858 (Serious Inquiries Only Please!) All other general inquiries, please send a private message to us via our Facebook page.

Frank’s started at the now nearly empty Innsbruck Mall before moving further and further east on Tunnel Road. Brooklyn native Frank Palmeri started the business in ’77, and eventually sold it to owner Barry Gardener, according to the Mountain Xpress. Gardner started working at Frank’s as a driver in 1987, and held nearly every job imaginable before buying the business in 2001, when Palmeri retired, according to Xpress.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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12 Comments

Tim November 4, 2016

Eat the truck, the driver and his gloves…

Reply
Jason November 3, 2016

Frank’s pizza was on par with Little Caesars. The place was always dirty and service was non existent. Can’t say I’ll miss the place. I’m sure some folks will exclaim how terrible this is and how we should memorialize the dump as a historical land mark, but come on…it’s just pizza.

Reply
Big Al November 2, 2016

Wow. Based on a friend’s recommendation (I was lamenting how bad pizza was in Asheville, especially at so-called “wood-fired” joints) I ate there for the first time last week. It was OK, not stellar but OK. Now it will be gone. Weird.

Reply
1. Nate November 3, 2016
  
  Only ate there once, but definitely was not impressed by the quality of Frank’s pizza.
  
  Have you tried Favilla’s in West Asheville (and now also up on Merrimon near the ABC brew ‘n’ view)? They do a very respectable NY style pizza, in my opinion.
  
  Reply
  1. chris November 3, 2016
    
    How is NY style pizza in any way respectable?
    
    Reply
    1. Nate November 3, 2016
      
      WTF does that even mean?
      
      Reply
      1. chris November 3, 2016
        
        I thought it was self-explanatory: it’s garbage. There’s nothing redeeming about it. Rather eat the box it comes in.
        
        Reply
      2. Nate November 4, 2016
        
        Fascinating, you usually only see that level of vehemence from people who hate Chicago-style deep dish pizza. I couldn’t disagree with you more. The best pizzas I’ve ever eaten in my life were in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. By far.
        
        Reply
  2. Big Al November 3, 2016
    
    Thanks for the recommendation.
    
    So far the only pizza in Asheville that has impressed me is Standard Pizza Company.
    
    Reply
2. Barry Summers November 3, 2016
  
  So it’s your fault?
  
  Reply
  1. Big Al November 3, 2016
    
    Yes. I have the power to destroy anyone I disapprove of without saying or doing anything. Watch yourself.
    
    Reply
    1. Barry Summers November 4, 2016
      
      Yessir.
      
      Reply