Two Halves Of The Pizza Pie

Dec. 2--Wal-Mart and Kmart.

McDonald's and Burger King.

Competing retailers and restaurants are known to cluster their locations but rarely do they build adjacent branches.

Last month, however, Marcello's Pizza returned to the downtown area after a yearlong absence when it opened a 60-seat York location at the former Sara's Garden at 7 S. George St.

Next door, Giambanco's Pizzeria made its downtown debut in November when it opened its first York County location at 15 S. George St.

"I think there is a value to clustering similar themed restaurants," said Matt Jackson, the city's economic development director. "There will be healthy tension with clustering, but that's the nature of the beast of capitalism."

Marcello Mannino said he has managed to rebuild his downtown customer base despite the added competition.

"It's a free country," he said. "It looks ridiculous for York (to have two pizza shops next to each other). This is not Manhattan."

Giuseppe Giambanco said he would not have signed a lease knowing that Marcello's Pizza had plans to open a shop so close by.

"I was told (Marcello's) would be in the downtown area," he said. "I had no idea he would be right next door to me. With two pizzerias side by side, it's hard to predict how business will turn out."

Giambanco moved to York County in 2002 to take a pharmacy job with Phar-Mor. He eventually landed his current job with Target.

During the past three years, Giambanco has watched as more restaurants have migrated to the downtown.

He decided to open his own place, persuaded that York would benefit from his family's brand of pizza.

"We grew up in the business," he said.

Giambanco's father came to the United States from Sicily in 1968 and opened a pizza shop in New York. The family eventually moved the business to Pennsylvania.

Mannino and Giambanco's father hail from the same town of Carini, Sicily.

In the case of Marcello's pizza, having a shop downtown is a statement rather than a litmus test to how the business is received by residents. Marcello's operates four other shops throughout the county, Mannino said.

A York location has helped Marcello's Pizza market its brand to a host of county residents who work downtown.

"People from all over the county work in the city," Mannino said. "It's good to have that exposure."

Jackson said both Marcello's Pizza and Giambanco's Pizzeria may want for elbow room, but both restaurants add to city's ethnic menu.

"We would like to have Thai and Mexican restaurants," he said. "In the meantime, we're happy to have pizza. That area on South George Street could be seen as the place to get pizza in York."


JUST A TASTE: Here is a selection of menu items available at two Italian eateries on South George Street in York:

At Marcello's Pizza:

--Philly Steak Stromboli

--South Western Burger

--Chicken Cheesesteak

--Chicken Cacciatore

--Ham and Cheese Boat

Giambanco's Pizzeria

--Steak and Cheese Pittsburgh Sandwich

--Salami and Cheese Pittsburgh Sandwich

--Sicilian Steak Salad

--Steak Calzone

--Capicola and Cheese Cold Sub

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