"Live, love, laugh and eat with family and friends at CJ's."
William R. Abela, Owner
Jay Rocco, Manager
The first, original CJ's Pizza was located in Rhinebeck, NY across from the Dutchess County fairgrounds. Primarily a take-out establishment, the pizza parlor consisted of a take-out counter, three sit-down hardwood booths, a soda case and a Mr. Pac-Man game. The space was so limited that only two workers fit behind the counter - the pizza man and a cashier who also doubled as "the" kitchen staff.
The Rhinebeck pizza parlor was so successful that a second, larger establishment was opened in Hyde Park, NY. The two locations were owned and operated by John and Edna Stagnaro. William Abela was a long standing and valuable employee of Mr. Stagnaro's. The Hyde Park location is no longer in operation and this is the story about the CJ's still in operation in Rhinebeck.
William Abela, with support from his Godfather John Stagnaro, started his own CJ's Pizza franchise. It began when an over sized Bakers Pride pizza oven was put into a "reconditioned" school bus.
With help from family and friends, the yellow school bus was transformed into a pizza kitchen. William equipped the bus with two gas fueled pizza ovens, two steam tables, refrigerators, a cash register and a walk-up service window. It was truly a site to see - CJ's Pizza on Wheels!
William's customer base multiplied quickly and the business outgrew the Pizza on Wheels set-up. It was time to "park" the business.
The first CJ's location was in southern Rhinebeck near the beginning of the four lanes on 9G. Since customers came from multiple counties, William felt the location near the four lanes would allow easy, quick access. In a few short years, CJ's again outgrew the space.
The business was relocated to a historic building north of Rhinebeck off of 9G. The current restaurant location is in a building dating back to 1772.
The vaulted dining room is spacious and comfortable and will
accommodates small groups or large parties up to 99 people.
Fireside dining can be arranged for special romantic occasions.
An addition in the late 90's enabled us to offer a spacious, high ceiling dining area. We now host large groups for dinner and special events. A new and larger kitchen became operable in late 2006 and our bar and grill were openned in December of 2006. The full service bar/tap room, The Chatterbox, features two large screen high definition TV's, football night specials and a weekday Happy Hour. In keeping up with the technological needs of our clientèle, CJ's offers wireless Internet access.
Our location may have changed over the years, but our pizza recipe has not. We continue to serve the same great tasting pizza that John Stagnaro "created" and served in Brooklyn back in the "old" days.
Despite our fast-paced world and hectic lives, it is important and routine for CJ's to slow cook all our dinner and sandwich sauces for eight hours or more. Dinners and sandwiches are served with sauces prepared and cooked in our own kitchen with ingredients that are fresh and of the highest of quality. Delicious! And our pizzas, we make them with freshly made dough, our homemade sauces and with delicious toppings of your choice.
I am proud to have a menu with a fine selection of entrées that include dishes made from family recipes. Over the years, "I secretly acquired recipes from my Italian mother and grandmother." The CJ's menu includes my Grandmother's eggplant and meat lasagna! I was never able to recreate my Mother's lasagna - one of a kind and not easily made from a recipe.
CJ's is perfect for:
As our guest you will be served by one of our many valuable CJ's employees. Dedicated to making your dining experience a culinary delight, we are here to serve.
