Video: Unique Pizzeria One Example Of Commercial Development Boom

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – The windows at 206 Troy Street may be covered, but there’s already been a tasting party for the business that will soon open inside.

Vince Rapisardo is the owner of “Anthony’s Neapolitan Pizza.” He lives in the Fairpark area and wants to bring something different to the Tupelo restaurant scene.

“It’s four simple ingredients, water, salt, a special flour brought in from Italy, and yeast. Simple ingredients, all natural,” Rapisardo said.

The pizzas are baked in a wood fired, brick oven that is the only one of its kind in the state. It takes only 90 seconds to make the neapolitan pizza, like you’d find in Naples, Italy, where the oven was made.

“It’s different, it is, it’s the real deal, what you would get in Italy and you went to the pizza places there, which have Neapolitan, it’s good stuff,” said Scott Wagner, who owns the building. His company, Wagner Properties, brought in KOK, The Farmhouse, Caron Gallery. He also owns the buildings where Cafe 212 and Crave are located. Wagner says a robust commercial downtown district has a big impact.

“People will come here that haven’t been downtown yet and they will see the downtown and it will bring them into , they will eat at Cafe 212 and the different restaurants down here, I think it’s just great for downtown, to have a new place,” Wagner said.

Wagner says older downtown properties have unique characteristics, that new construction simply doesn’t offer. Anthony’s Neapolitan Pizza should open in six to eight weeks.

Another well known businessman will open a restaurant soon in downtown Tupelo. Vanelli’s Bistro will open in early summer.

www.anthonystupelo.com