Our Story
The Beginning of a Niagara Institution
Over half a century ago, in 1971, Tony and Connie Zappitelli opened the first Zappi’s as a takeout shop from the garage of their home, located on Dunn St. near Drummond Rd. Eventually it was expanded to have a small dining room, then a larger dining room to accommodate our growing customer base, and soon after, the addition of a party room.
Our early expansion efforts included moving to what is today the Casa Mia Ristorante in Stamford Centre, followed by a relocation to what is now Mick and Angelo’s on Lundy’s Lane, and another move to the current location of Napoli's restaurant on Stanley Avenue. We grew to extend two additional restaurant locations in Welland and Ridgeway.
“We could easily turn into a tourist restaurant, but locals are year-round; they’re your bread and butter,” he said. “It’s wonderful to see the locals and tourists react with each other. I love the people.”
- Al Zappitelli
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Zappitelli, who grew up working in his parents’ restaurant kitchens, said locals and tourists alike continually approached his parents to tell them how much they missed the food and the memories they had eating at Zappi’s. That, plus the potential he saw in what would become the booming Fallsview tourist district, led Zappitelli to revive the name when he opened Zappi’s Pizza and Pasta at 6663 Stanley Ave in 2002.
“There was only one hotel then,” he said. “There were ditches on the road. "The day that he opened, the city announced a major reconstruction of Stanley Avenue. “It shut me down for almost a year,” said Zappitelli. “It almost broke me, but we watched everything grow around us.”
Come Visit Us!
Zappi’s boasts a fun family atmosphere, plenty of space for all the kids, and great pizza pies. Zappi’s famous pizzas are loaded with sauce and cheese and generously sprinkled with toppings. They also serve classic Italian dishes such as calzones, a variety of pasta dishes, and delicious subs. Our authentic Italian eatery has been serving our family's famous pizza since 1971. Check out our extensive menu of traditional favourites with something for everyone, including the junior diners in your gang.
We're conveniently located near the corner of Dunn Street and Stanley Avenue in Niagara Falls in the Fallsview District, right by the world-famous Niagara Falls. Our restaurant is ideal for individuals who are seeking family dining in Niagara Falls, ON. We are known for our warm environment with great food and an exuberant staff of 60. Call for delivery during business hours and check out our coupons available for delivery orders! For your convenience, we feature a large parking lot with plenty of spots!