Buono’s Pizza, which recently reopened in southwest Mesa, is changing its name to Amici Pizza.
According to the announcement:
‘‘‘Amici’ directly translates to ‘friends’ in Italian, a fitting name as Amici Pizza should be a place where friends and family alike can gather together (and make new friends) while indulging on the best New York-style pizza and Italian food that the Valley has to offer.’’
Buono’s, which closed last year after a 29-year run, was reopened on the southwest corner of Dobson and Guadalupe in January by Steve Cusumano and Vinny Pante, who came up with the new name.
Why the change? The sale did not include the rights to the Buono’s name.
The pizzeria was named after Vic Buono, who founded the pizzeria in 1989, He now owns Nicantoni’s Pizza in Gilbert.
Buono sold Buono’s to Pante’s father, Jimmy, who owned or co-owned the business from 1992-2013. Vinny and his brother, James, worked there as teenagers.
Now the two oversee the kitchen and have brought back the pizzeria’s original recipes.
For now, the signage and menus still say ‘‘Buono’s’’ until the change is fully implemented. Coupons for Buono’s still will be honored until they expire.
