Community Corner

Making More of a Good Thing: Vetrano Expanding Pizza Business to Montville

Richie Vetrano, of Valentino's Pizza, is opening Nino's Pizzeria in Montville.

Richie Vetrano, owner of Valentino’s Pizzeria in Ledyard, is expanding and bringing his New York style pizza recipe across the Thames River to Montville.  

“We’re excited to make new friends and plant the same seeds we started 20 years ago in Ledyard,” he said.

The new venture is called Nino’s Pizzeria and will be located at 1031 Route 32 in Uncasville. It will move in where Goodfella’s Pizza once was.  

Valentino’s Pizzeria in Ledyard will remain unchanged and Vetrano said his wife Stephanie, his daughters and his Valentino’s staff are going to help him run both places.  

“It’s all about putting my kids through college at this point,” he said of his girls who range in age from 12 to 18. “It’s all about me trying to ease that pain of paying for college.”  

Even though Nino’s Pizzeria is brand new, it’s like most things in Vetrano’s life – it has deep roots.  

“Nino’s is a very important name to me,” he said. “It was the nickname for my grandfather Antonio and it’s the name of the first pizza place I worked at in Long Island.”  

And it’s also a big clue as to what kind of pizza you’ll get at Nino’s. Vetrano said they’ll be hand tossing the dough and cooking it on the stone without a pan. It should be thin and crispy.  

Unlike his previous ventures in Ledyard and Westerly where he has several partners invested in each location, Vetrano will be on his own in Montville.  

“It feels fantastic, it’s a dream come true,” he said.   

Hopes are that Nino’s is open by the third week in June or July 1 at the very latest. He said hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and they will deliver. Call 860-848-2020 for more information.  


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