Napoli Pizza opens for one night at Jones Mansion

FINDLAY — Eric Van Renterghem remembers his father's pizza restaurant and the pizza stall at the Hancock County Fair very fondly. Though Napoli Pizza closed in 2010, for one night only, guests will have the opportunity to taste local history once more. Don Van Renterghem started Napoli Pizza in 1956 in Findlay in partnership with John Studer, until 1969. At the beginning, the business only served pizza and antipasto salad. Over time, they also started serving spaghetti, lasagna, sausage and other popular food items. Eventually they opened a second Findlay location as well as stores in Tiffin, Fostoria and Fremont. "It was the first commercial pizza in Findlay," Eric said. Originally on the corner of East and East Sandusky streets, the Napoli's store was bought out and Don decided to sell exclusively at local fairs. "When they started in 1956, Dad said they had to take it to the Hancock County Fair, Hardin County Fair and Seneca County Fair," Van Renterghem said. "They had a trailer with pizza ovens that they would haul around and make pizzas (with)." According to Eric, his father was truly ahead of his time. Van Renterghem had what was essentially a food truck before food trucks were popular — even pizza was a newer thing in the U.S. then. He said they later got rid of the trailer and built a permanent stand at the Hancock County Fair in 1970, and became an immediate success. "In 1970, we sold 5,000 pizzas in five days," he said. "That was like 80 a minute." Van Renterghem said the stand was knocked down in 2010, ending the almost 50-year tradition of serving hot and ready Napoli Pizza at the Hancock County Fair. "We didn't even get to take pictures or anything," he said. Now, in honor of Don, who passed away in June, for one night only, Napoli Pizza will be in business again at the Jones Mansion. According to a Facebook page about the event, "Beginning with the trailer under-the-tree to our little green building down the hill … to honor Don's life, remembering this tradition, the Jones Mansion will offer the original recipe Napoli style pizza and antipasto salad buffet." The pizzas will be baked in the last two original ovens and both the salad and pizza will be made using the original recipes from 1956. The event will be held Friday from 5-7:30 p.m. and costs $28 per adult and $15 per child.