It's Been A Slice: Saying goodbye to a local legend

I worry that this week's newsletter is going to come across as kind of (ahem) cheesy... but I'm officially in mourning.

Dante's Pizzeria has been an institution for roughly 50 years in my hometown of Thornhill, Ontario. As the story goes, the Paoletti family (including restaurant namesake Dante Paoletti) emigrated from Abruzzo, Italy and proudly incorporated their mother's recipes into what is -- in my opinion -- the best pizza I've ever consumed.

And I am something of a subject matter expert on this, as pizza is one of only a half-dozen foods that I eat.

Last month, a note on the Dante's Facebook page explained that this would be the final year of operations for the restaurant. Once I regained consciousness after fainting on the floor, I called the restaurant to confirm this wasn't just someone's idea of a sick joke. Sadly, it was true; the Paoletti family will wrap up the business by the end of 2025.

Dante's is more than just a local pizza shop to me; it's always been a part of my life. Quite literally. As a child growing up in Willowdale (a neighborhood in the north end of Toronto), Dante's was often our delivery pizza of choice. I distinctly remember the white cardboard box with the two-toned image of a chef printed on top, and circular perforations on the sides that one could pop out to watch the steam from the pizza escape.

By the time I was in second grade, our family moved to nearby Thornhill, which (coincidentally?) became the location of Dante's first sit-down restaurant location. While not the most elegant of dining rooms (it felt like you were eating in someone's house), the food more than made up for the lack of atmosphere. Parking availability was always scarce at their Baythorn Drive location, and their take-out counter was always packed with hungry patrons.

I specifically remember my first year at summer camp being highlighted by my parents bringing me a Dante's pizza on visitor's day. It was the thing I missed most about being away from home (and yes, I'm including my family in that) and honestly, they couldn't have brought me something I would have enjoyed more than that cold pizza with the generous helpings of well-cooked cheese, crispy pepperoni and extra tomato sauce.

The first time I was married, the name Dante's was mentioned in more than one person's wedding speech (not only that, but several mentions of the restaurant were captured on camera for the television show "Life's Weddings" that had aired the event). We literally gave this place free publicity on national TV!

Years later, Dante's switched its location from Thornhill to nearby Vaughan, where (coincidentally?) I ended up moving to in my late 30s. And we're talking a three-minute drive from my house, which has to be pizza fate.

What was less than fateful was a legal dispute that was made public in 2014 and even covered by The Toronto Star. An investment group had gained control of the Dante's restaurant and name, kicking the Paoletti family to the curb. The Paoletti family opened up shop literally across the road from the Dufferin Street restaurant (now just a two-minute drive for yours truly) and called their restaurant "Paoletti's Pizza." Eventually, the family won back the right to use their own name, which they have retained to this day.

My family are such regulars at Dante's that we're often greeted with "Pasternak!" at the front counter, whether it's myself and my family, my brother and his, or my parents. We are royalty at this place, and we often celebrate milestones with a pizza (or two).

One of my first bonding experiences with my girlfriend (now wife) was a discussion about how we both loved Dante's... even the exact same toppings, right down to the extra sauce. I knew from that moment on she was a keeper! Our daughter even came up with a song as a toddler called "A toast made out of Dante's" - to this day, we're not sure what this is referring to, although admittedly it sounds delicious!

One more Dante's story? Sure, why not....

In 2018, I was honored to receive Manulife's Stars of Excellence award - the top honor an employee can receive at the company. The evening of the event, a Dante's pizza box was sitting on the table of my hotel room! Inside it was a gift card and a letter from then-Manulife Chairman John Cassaday, in which he wrote:

Without getting too (ahem) crusty about this, Dante's Pizzeria has been with me and my entire family for decades. I'm not sure if they're closing down because they knead the dough (okay... I'll stop with the pizza puns), but this is nonetheless heartbreaking news.

If you happen to live in the vicinity and want to try them out before they shut their doors for good, I would highly encourage you to do so.

Tell them "Pasternak!" sent you.

If you enjoyed reading this edition of Storytelling by Sean, please encourage your friends and colleagues to subscribe. If you have any feedback, please connect with me via LinkedIn, TikTok or at spasternak@gmail.com.