Sal's to Reopen Next Week

By Desiree Parker Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Scala Pizzeria and Taverna will reopen temporarily as Sal's by Victor.

After a fire destroyed his business last summer, Victor Minichiello is ready to temporarily reopen Sal’s by Victor next week thanks to the generosity of friendly competitors down the road.

On July 28, Sal’s was destroyed by a massive fire. Two weeks after the blaze, Black Angus Grille owner Bobby Mageras told his friend Victor that he wanted to help – and now Bobby’s sister Georgia is going to let Sal’s temporarily set up shop in her restaurant, Scala Pizzeria and Taverna, until he can rebuild.

“I’ve known Victor for over 20 years,” says Bobby, “and he’s always been an outgoing person. I admire his operation…his is the closest thing to authentic Italian food you can get here. It’s great food.”

Bobby said he thought about offering Victor the use of his own restaurant, but he couldn’t afford to close down that long.

His sister Georgia, though, saw a chance to do some good and bring back one of her family’s treasures at the same time.

For 40 years, her father ran the Williamsburg Lobster House restaurant. After a brief closure, Georgia and her husband reopened the Lobster House in a new location on Richmond Road, but it burned down in July 1999.

“That fire was the worst thing we’ve ever been though,” Georgia remembers. “We were totally sympathetic with Victor.”

Georgia and her husband opened Scala’s in September of 2008 and there were lots of construction troubles, according to Bobby. In August this year the roof collapsed and the pizzeria was closed for a few months. Though it recently reopened, Georgia says she really wants to bring back her father’s restaurant, which she was christened in.

“Victor, his place is a landmark here,” Georgia says. “This will give us a chance to bring back a landmark, too – the Lobster House.

“We want to be an example,” she says. “We’re two competitive businesses that have joined forces in a terrible economy.”

Sal’s will reopen sometime next week in their temporary digs at 1425 Richmond Road, and will stay there until June. Because part of the parking lot is not usable due to construction from a neighbor, Black Angus will share its neighboring lot to accommodate customers.

Victor told WYDaily he is very excited to get Sal’s reopened so soon, thanks to the generosity of his friends the Mageras.

“I come from a big family in Italy,” he says. “After so many years here, I finally realize I have an even bigger family here in Williamsburg. I really appreciate all the support I’ve gotten [since the fire].” What the Mageras are doing, “it warms my heart,” says Victor.

He says most of his employees will be over at the temporary location with him, and he’ll be offering the same menu.

While Sal’s by Victor will just move into the already-furnished Scala’s, Georgia will be using the time to renovate the building so it can open as the new Lobster House in the summer. It’ll have the same menu her father’s restaurant had, she says.

Customers shouldn’t worry, says Victor – Sal’s will be back and better than ever next summer. “Now we can take time to rebuild it bigger, better, and more beautiful than before. It will be a taste of Italy right here in Williamsburg!” he says.