Limoncello Opening a Pizza Shop at Anthem House
Limoncello, the Amalfi Coast-inspired Italian restaurant at Anthem House in Locust Point, is leasing a second storefront in the apartment building for a new concept called Limoncello Pizzeria. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Limoncello went to a carry-out menu with a focus on Tuscan-style pizzas and, because of its popularity, the ownership group began exploring the idea of opening a pizzeria in the neighborhood.
Limoncello is owned by Gennaro di Benedetto, Francesco Schiano, and Gianluca Parascandolo. Vincenzo Schiano is the general manager. All four of them will be owners of Limoncello Pizza.
“We’re just really happy,” said Vincenzo Schiano. “It went from a thought to an idea to a project to reality. Now we have to start the real-world part of it.”
Limoncello Pizza will be hosting a pop-up at the Locust Point Festival at Latrobe Park on September 17th, and hopes to open its shop in the first or second quarter of 2023.
Limoncello Pizza will take over an approximately 1,400 sq. ft. storefront at the corner of E. Fort Ave. and Lawrence St. which was previously slated to house Burgerim before it fell through.
The ownership team spent recent months getting the deal done with building ownership of Bozzuto and War Horse Cities. It is now working on the permitting process before starting construction.
Limoncello Pizza will be mostly carry-out and be set up like a “New York slice shop,” according to Vincenzo Schiano. It will sell New York-style pizza and thicker Tuscan-style pizza by the slice and whole pie. It will also sell calzones, strombolis, rolls, and sandwiches.
Vincenzo Schiano said they were hoping to have a wood-fired oven to add Neapolitan pizzas to the mix, but said that likely won’t happen due to building restrictions.
The ownership team also owns pizza shops Frank and Luke’s N.Y. Pizza Kitchen in Crofton, Carmine’s NY Pizza Kitchen in Chester, Little Carmine’s N.Y. Pizza Kitchen in Severna Park, and Good Guys N.Y. Pizza Kitchen in Pikesville.
Gennaro di Benedetto, Francesco Schiano, Gianluca Parascandolo, and Vincenzo Schiano all grew up in Monte di Procida which is outside of Naples in the Campania region of Southern Italy. Naples is seen as the birthplace of pizza.
Vincenzo Schiano said it’s “incredibly cool” to bring the food that made his hometown famous to Baltimore. He spoke about how Neapolitan immigrants in New York made pizzas that evolved into what is now known as New York-style pizza.
Limoncello Pizza will be open every day for lunch and dinner. It will also offer catering.
Vincenzo Schiano said the fan-favorite Vinny’s Grandma pizza from the Limoncello carry-out menu will be a staple on the menu. Every day there will be handful of New York- and Tuscan-style pizzas in a display available by the slice as well as a larger menu for full pies. There may also be Sicilian pizza on the menu as well.
There will be some booths inside as well as bar counter seating.
Vincenzo Schiano said business has been “incredible” at Limoncello coming out of the pandemic.
“The community has supported us so much and we can’t even begin to say thank you,” said Vincenzo Schiano. “I’m here almost every day and we love the community. They’ve shown so much love and this is another way to love them back.”
The Vinny’s Grandma Pizza from Limoncello
About the Author: Kevin Lynch
Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.
