SEBASTIAN — Even without all the finishing touches and décor details, the new home of The Pizza Pie and Wing Co. Sports Bar impresses.
It is the former home of Beef O’Brady’s, at the southeast corner of County Roads 512 and 510 in the Publix Center, and the owners, Tony Saracco and his sons Joseph and Michael, have made it their own, completely changing the interior look.
Gone are the separating walls and the dark colors. Now it’s one very big room, with pale, buttercream walls, a rich, deep blue terrazzo floor, a high ceiling with trendy New York-style open a/c ductwork, clean, simple fixtures, and plenty of light from windows on the north and west sides.
The Pizza Pie and Wing Co. is a sports bar with a lot of class. “We’ve tried to think of everything for our customers,” Saracco says, and they seem to have done exactly that.
The stars of the place are the 17 wide, sleek plasma TVs, suspended from the ceiling and positioned strategically, Saracco explains, so that “wherever you sit, you are close to your event.”
And speaking of sitting – Saracco was determined the place wouldn’t have “those hard, wooden chairs” that aren’t built for long-term comfy sitting. “We deliberately searched for captain’s chairs,” he said. He finally found what he was looking for from an old auditorium – stylish captain’s armchairs with cushioned backs and seats and very roomy. He and his sons custom-refinished them all by hand – painting the wood a pale yellow and recovering the cushions in snazzy black.
Of Italian and Irish descent, Tony Saracco is a born host, hurrying to greet visitors, hand outstretched, offering a beverage, indicating a chair, eyes sparkling as he talks about his new enterprise. His dad, also Tony, was the first of three generations who have owned and operated restaurants –in Queens, NY, Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach, FL, before acquiring their Sebastian location.
Michael Saracco, an attorney, handles the business end and Joseph Saracco will be overseeing the day-to-day operation. They and their older brother, John, grew up in the business, and are as dedicated to it as their father and grandfather. “We started out when we were about 5,” Michael Saracco says, “We wiped chairs – lots of chairs.”
“They got to spend quality time with me,” Tony Saracco grins.
“And,” Joseph Saracco adds, “when we finished the job, we got to get the toy we wanted.”
The Saraccos have already taken the community to heart. “We are SO school and sports-oriented,” Tony Saracco says. “We work with Coach Pettis (from Sebastian River High School). After every home game we’ll have free pizza for the team, and our pizza is second to none. We’re family-friendly. Tuesday through Thursday kids under 12 can get a kid’s meal free with a soda purchase. And we’ll be open from 11 a.m. till 1 a.m.”
With the seating they plan to have outside, the capacity will be about 195. Currently they are hiring staff and expect to employ about 50. As the Saraccos discuss their plans, several people stop in to pick up or turn in job applications, and Joseph excuses himself to greet them.
“We enjoy serving people,” Tony Saracco says, taking a phone call, returning to the table. He is excited to share the plans. “We like to say ‘We don’t just cook, we cook for YOU!’ Our wings are jumbo. We have a special deal with a farm. We have salads, too. Our hamburger meat is fresh ground. The burgers are a half pound served on a potato bun.”
And what’s a sports bar without – “the iciest ice cold beer in frosty mugs! That’s our goal,” Joseph promises. “We’ll have a full liquor bar, of course.”
A lifelong restaurateur, Tony Saracco simply loves the business, the process of preparing the food and, especially, serving and getting to know the customers he looks forward to welcoming as soon as Pizza Pie and Wing. Co. Sports Bar officially opens its doors within a few weeks.
It can’t be too soon for Tony Saracco.
