{"id":22,"date":"2025-04-15T21:46:54","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T21:46:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ascjcapstone.com\/spring-2025\/nbednar\/?p=22"},"modified":"2025-05-13T23:37:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T23:37:48","slug":"prince-st-pizza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ascjcapstone.com\/spring-2025\/nbednar\/index.php\/2025\/04\/15\/prince-st-pizza\/","title":{"rendered":"Prince St. Pizza"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Even throughout their own closures due to the Palisades and Eaton fires, Prince St. Pizza found ways to support Los Angeles communities from the inside out<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(Photo\/Nicole Bednar)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Born in New York City, Prince St. Pizza can be found across New York, Miami and California serving Sicilian \u201cSoHo\u201d Squares and original Neapolitan pizzas giving customers a New York City slice shop experience. While multiple locations remained closed due to the Palisades and Eaton fires, the ones that stayed open immediately jumped into action to help support our Southern California communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Timeline of Prince St. Pizza\u2019s efforts from the beginning of the fires to present day. (Created by Nicole Bednar)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Moments after these devastating fires broke out on January 7, Marketing Manager Diana Schulman reached out to Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Longo, pitching him the idea to serve free slices to anyone affected and first responders. It was an instant agreement, and within minutes, Schulman had a post up letting people know Prince St. was there to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Longo, the pizzeria was founded on the idea of feeding the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen something crazy happens, you go and help out the community you\u2019re a part of,\u201d he said, \u201cWhen I see restaurant owners who are just like \u2018I\u2019ll just close it down while we wait and see what it\u2019s like.\u2019 I say, \u2018No man! Get in there and help out!\u2019.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decision to contribute was unanimous among the Prince St. staff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Director of Operations Sid Jones said, \u201cAnything that we could do to support or be a part of it, it wasn\u2019t even a question. It\u2019s about giving back to people who are protecting us and helping us, and giving back to a community of people who are in a tough situation.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prince St. wanted to make sure that even through uncertainty there was some sense of comfort. Fire evacuees could come in and ask for a free slice of their choice without questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was very casual because the big picture was helping people,\u201d said Jones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, they also donated full pies to firehouses, evacuation sites and donation centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schulman emphasized the pizzeria\u2019s efforts during such a difficult time and believes that there\u2019s something special about this place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just want people to think of community when they think Prince St. It\u2019s more than just pizza. We really, really want the community to trust us and feel like they can come to us to feel at home when they might not have their home anymore,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For locations outside of the local communities directly affected by the fires, Prince St. started to brainstorm and knew they could expand their efforts through something unexpected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company prides itself on not serving ranch with their pizza. So, to get people talking and give customers an opportunity to break their golden rule, they created \u201cNot Ranch.\u201d This creamy garlic aioli was a small but powerful addition to their menu, where every purchase went directly to fire relief. This allowed thousands of people to contribute to Prince St.\u2019s efforts and made our connection as a nation stronger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A sign displayed for guests to see that they don’t support dipping their pizza in any kind of sauce. (Photo\/Nicole Bednar)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Out of the seven Prince St. locations in Los Angeles, the Pasadena and Malibu shops had to close due to the fires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Cal Fire, the Eaton Fire burned approximately 14,021 acres and destroyed over 9,400 structures, and the Palisades Fire burned 23,448 acres and destroyed over 6,800 structures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Questions of the government\u2019s role in this and funding disbursements start to arise. Jones believes that supporting people should be the priority. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt would be great if the federal government jumped in and were able to give us or other businesses some sort of credit, but I would never want it to undervalue the intention or integrity of what we\u2019re doing. It\u2019s not about the money, it\u2019s about the people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Longo agrees and is frustrated that politics get in the way of what\u2019s most important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEverybody turns support after disasters into politics, and that\u2019s not what it\u2019s about. It should be about the people and helping them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And helping people is just what Prince St. did, along with many other Angelenos. Jones thought it was cool to see Los Angeles really united. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s easy to be a divided place now, and I think that it was very refreshing to see people coming together in unity, to assist each other and complete strangers,\u201d he said, \u201cThe only positive I can see from a fire of this scale is just being able to connect with people and hearing their stories and trying to make an impact on the local communities.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a similar vein, a fond memory Schulman reflects back on is dropping off pizzas at fire stations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think what a lot of people don\u2019t realize is they\u2019re out fighting these fires all day long, and then they come home and they\u2019re tired and don\u2019t want to make food. But now they have our pizzas!\u201d she said, \u201cIt\u2019s nice to know we\u2019re able to help the people that are saving our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seeing their impact on others brings a smile to their faces, however, Longo believes the greatest prize is the smallest gesture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnytime somebody thanks you for doing something good, that\u2019s the reward. Right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click to see my video highlighting their efforts and delicious food below<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Posted to my Instagram & TikTok<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by nicole (@noshinwithnicole)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n