Meet The Owner of Bravo Pizza

Patch wants to get to know the owner of Bravo Pizza, a long-run local pizza shop and a staple in Wayne. Get to know this owner below.

Name: Paola Coppola

Owner of: Bravo Pizza in Wayne

Year Established: Bravo Pizza opened in 1997, but Coppola just recently purchased it from the chain restaurant.

Hometown: Born in Avella, Italy, but grew up in Monte di Procida, Italy.

Current Residence: Wayne

Earlier Stints: Owned a few pizza shops—Scotto's and Vinnie's—in Brooklyn, NY, with her former husband. 

First Experiences With Food: My mom was a baker. I come from a large family—I have five brothers and two sisters, so my mom was always making something. We used to deliver bread that my mom made to our neighbors.

Favorite Meal at Bravo Pizza: The Margherita pizza or a plain pizza with arugula and Gorgonzola cheese for toppings.

Why did you get into the business? 

I always wanted to own my own business. I always believed that when you feed people, it makes them happy and I want them to be happy. I want them to come into my "kitchen" here and be very happy about what they're eating and what I'm serving that day.

What do you like about the area?

This is the longest place I've ever lived (16 years). I like the feeling of being in a small community. Everybody knows each other here. It reminds me of my small town in Italy. I appreciate all our customers and their business, and everyone who has stopped in here, even if I don't see them often.

Plug: The pizza shop is also BYOB, so feel free to bring a bottle of wine or beer to drink with their pizza or pasta. Nearly all the food is made by Coppola (except the dried pastas)—including the lasagna, ravioli, gnocchi, tiramisu, and, of course, the pizzas.