LEWISTOWN - Maggie Deangelo and John Hickey, owners of Villa Roma in Lewistown, wanted their restaurant to be a place of their own. That's why they moved it up the road from its old location on U.S. 522 South. The new location officially opened on Jan. 5, Deangelo said.
"We need something for ourselves," Deangelo said. "We just needed a better location."
Deangelo and Hickey were renting their old location, which they have run their business out of for about seven years. They decided to move because they wanted to own the restaurant's space instead of rent it, which would offer the best deal possible and cut unneeded expenses, Hickey said.
Deangelo said the new location has brought in a lot of people, and it has a better environment and atmosphere. The restaurant has attracted a lot of customers because people are interested to see the new location, she said.
"A lot of people love the atmosphere," she said. "It's a lot nicer."
The new location also brings a more homey feel to the restaurant, Deangelo said.
"We're very friendly people," she said. "It's more us."
Deangelo and Hickey want their customers to know that they come from the Bronx and Brooklyn, so the restaurant's food and decorations resemble New York culture. One way the couple helps customers get a taste of that culture is by serving New York style pizza, they said.
"That's the only pizza I truly know how to make," Hickey said.
The couple's future plans for the restaurant include possibly opening another location or expanding the menu, they said.
