There's a movie in here somewhere.

Can you say slander???!!!!

Wow so not even close to the truth! Wonder who the "sources" are... the local crackhead trash that hung around the outside and train station, or what hmmm maybe try to get all the facts before slandering a family and business! I guess this is why he is a patch reporter LOL!

Well, if there are signs on the window from the state and county citing closure/seizure due to unpaid taxes and health code violations, I'm not sure you can dispute those facts. All the other stuff sounds like gossip or someone involved playing the blame game. Citing unnamed sources for an article like this is somewhat comical but a fun read nonetheless. Stay classy summit.

My name is Vincent Celii and I'm the owner of Summit Brick Oven Pizza. Someone informed me about this article and I was reluctant to resond to it originally since its water under the bridge so to speak. I am doing so to set the matter straight and clear up some misconceptions above what happened. Since there are so many inaccuracies in the story I'll take them one at a time.

First, the reporter states that the IRS closed me down. While this may be a case of "splitting hairs" the truth of the matter is that the STATE of NJ did so. Perhaps the reporter could have read the notice on the window, after all, he took a photo of it. Let me educate him now.

The IRS is a Federal Agency. The State Department of Taxation as the name would suggest is a STATE agency. No big deal but it seems like sloppy journalism to me.

Sloppy journalism #2: After reading the article one would surmise that I was closed down for two reasons; namely, Taxes and Health Department concerns. If the reporter had bothered to verify with the Health Department the reasons he would have been informed that the Health Department does so automatically in order to ensure that if we were able to reopen-- the inventory would have to be documented that it was fresh and not sitting in my walk-in refrigerator for several weeks.

In fact, I just had a successful inspection in May of this past year.

Sloppy journalism #3: The reporter quotes someone who seems to have intimate knowledge of my finances and background. Unfortunately, his source is a 20 year old former employee who suffers from bi polar disorder and was fired in the past for fighting with a customer. This poor kid is on so much medication that just a casual conversation lasting more than several minutes will leave you with a sense that something is not right. Yet the reporter uses him as his only source. On a bad day he would announce that his father is a hit man for the Mafia. On a good day he would state that he was going to work for the U.N. as a translator of Swahili, Shona and Zulu. The sad part I guess is that he may have even believed it himself. That
this reportor was so easily duped is surprising.

As for the issue of mismanaging the pizzeria, I will need to plead mea culpa on that score. My mistake was to keep the shop open for longer than i should have. The smart and sensible thing would have been to close the place two years but i didn't want to put my employees on the street. Some of them are single parents who are not only supporting a family here in the U.S., but they send money home to their families overseas. My father did that when he came to America with a new wfe and a young child(me) and I always admired him AND anyone else who did that.

Sloppy Jornalism #4: My relationship with Vito has never been stronger. In fact, these past 2 years have made it stronger.

Those are the facts. If the reporter had taken the extra time to contact either myself or Vito, he would have had a far less entertaining but much more accurate story.

Lastly, I would like to thank all my devoted customers for their support over the years. It was a pleasure serving you for these past 13 1/2 years. You made coming to work a joy. I wish you all continued good health an fortune. As they say in Italy: Cent' Ann' (May you live a hundred years)

Thank you Vinnie and Vito.

Im gonna be honest this place used to smell like feet and the pizza was very greasy. Since Trat opened you guys were my 5th pizza option in Summit after, #1 Trat #2 Doria's #3 Joe's #4 Dominoes. Im sorry to hear you guys shut down and people lost their jobs but you guys couldn't deliver in the right way. Im just keeping it real

... I always liked the pizza there! Sorry to see it go.

Pizza parlors cower in the face of the Trat. Go Louie!

#1 the Village Trattoria, #2 Randazzo's, #3 Doria's, #4 Antonio's, #5 Brick Oven, #6 Domino's, #7 Joe's ... have not tried Pizza Vita but have heard good things ....

It's all half-truths for the most part. The source, even though Vinnie made him out to seem insane, he's actually a really good kid once you peel back the layers and get to know him. I've known him for 8 years now, longer then I've known Vinnie or Vito. It's a shame you guys had to go and I will miss (almost) everyone from there. Oh well. Now I'm curious to see what/who is going to take their place.

Very sad to hear this--the Brick Oven was our family's favorite pizzeria from the time we first moved here ten years ago. Nobody else made a pan pizza (with double pepperoni) like the Brick Oven. Great pizza and I always appreciated how friendly Vinnie and Vito were to me and my family. We'll miss you guys.

I USED TO SEE MICK JAGGER AT THE BRICK OVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ME, AND I BET MICK WILL MISS THIS LOCAL PIZZA DIVE.

Wow, I don't know where to start. The article focused too much on the relationship of the brothers that owned the place. Who cares if they got along or not. Clearly, that is not why they got closed down. Most concerning fact is that they were closed down for health and tax issues. Whatever those issues were, it was bad enough that the establishment was closed. Thank goodness. The place was DIRTY, there was always riff-raff hanging around outside any time of day or night, AND, I finally gave up ordering from Brick Oven after being told several times that they didn't have half the items on the menu available that I wanted to order. Sketchy! Next, the fact that one of the owners actually responded to the article in a lengthy, unprofessional manner is just pathetic and embarrassing. Wow. I will be sure to avoid any potential, future place he or his brother might open. The owners and their employees were always half asleep any time I called or went in to order food. Customer service was not their strong point. On top of the fact that there are a ton of better pizza places in town, Brick Oven never really tried to stand above the other pizza restaurants.

Summit Res - Does it make you feel good to be mean? It's not the owner's attempt to defend himself that strikes me as pathetic, rather it's your own post. The shop has been closed. Whether you liked Brick Oven or not, a better and kinder person would recognize that there's nothing to be gained by posting such negative opinions at this point. I hope I don't know you.

I moved to Summit in November 2002 - nearly nine years ago to the week. There are a few traditions for me personally here in Summit that have buoyed me in hard times. One of those - indeed, perhaps the single most - treasured tradition was Summit Brick Oven. I had Summit Brick Oven deliver to me here in my apartment time and time again and every time - every single time - for nearly a decade - it was nothing but the most delicious and wonderful gift to my door. Whenever I stopped by, the warmth of the brick oven on a cold winter's evening or the friendly open door policy in warmer months was that rarest of environments in a cold and arrogant town. You can walk down the streets of this town on any day and it's a guarantee that of the 10 people you walk past, none will meet your eye nor will any deign to even say "hello" or some other pleasantry. This place was the opposite. This place treated everyone well and their food - although admittedly I always got the same pizza - was amazing. It was my sin. I'm not a drinker, user, philanderer, gambler or any other type of vice-addled zombie but this - this was my sin. Once a week or every two weeks, I would have their pizza delivered to me. And no one in this town - this town of $20 dollar haircuts and not very well-earned diffident arrogance - ever treated me better or FED me better. God bless, you Italian men of character. You made me happy many times and as I stood before the papered windows, I was sad indeed. Very sad.

this town of $20 dollar haircuts and not very well-earned diffident arrogance, car-related cultural behaviors, frotterisim

Duh, thank you Vito and Vinnie.

Get rid of all of the kind people in Summit, everyone generous, leave behind all of the people whose farts smell like lemonade.

Very sad.

http://criminalsgonewild.blogspot.com/

very disappointed to see Brick Oven closed, Vinnie and Vito were the friendliest, most hospitable guys around and the product was always first class. My family, and children were made to feel really sincerely welcome, Vito would often brring in cupcakes, a desert, a special bottle of coke, a fruit salad and deliver it to the table as a surprise. It's that beyond the call of duty service that you never forget. I felt like an old friend at the Brick Oven. The sincere Italian hospitality was very much appreciated. Vito and Vinnie would get some dough on a plate and give to my young son to play with at the table to keep him entertained Brick Oven will be very much missed, Hope they open up a new spot when a good opportunity arises, and I hope we hear about it.Will really miss you guys. And for the record if you review the Brick Oven's Restaurant Ratings on the I Dine Rewards Network, you'll see they had a Stella record voted in all categories from customers that voted anonymously online