The Amicarelli family name has been synonymous with outstanding pizza, pasta and other Italian offerings in Michigan’s Great Southwest and Northwest Indiana for decades. Their Roma Pizza brand has been a staple in cities from St. Joseph to Michigan City for as long as most people can remember.
After an absence of eight years, an Amicarelli will be back at the helm of Roma Pizza in New Buffalo next week when Alex Amicarelli takes possession from current owner Jim Kramer of St. Joseph. Kramer purchased the Harbor Country Roma location from Alex’s uncle Nicola Amicarelli eight years ago after Nicola had owned that site for more than 35 years and headed into retirement.
Alex tells me that they received approval for the transfer of the liquor license from the Michigan State Liquor Control Commission last week and he is due to take possession from Kramer on February 9th.
Alex has formed a partnership with his nephew Nathan Phelps and a long time employee at Roma Pizza in Michigan City, Brian Longman. Longman has been with the Michigan City store for 35 years.
Alex, who has owned the Michigan City Roma location since 2004 and the Bridgman store since 1992, approached Kramer about a year ago to see if he was interested in selling the restaurant back to the family. He agreed and Alex calls it “A great opportunity for me to help Nathan and his family along with Brian.” He says that Brian will retire from his job with the Michigan City School system where he has been employed for more than 27 years.
Alex says that New Buffalo Roma Pizza was considered by the family to be one of the “anchor locations” for the Amicarelli clan. He tells me that in the 1970s, the three brothers Alex Senior, who ran Michigan City, Fernando, who ran Bridgman, and Nicola, who operated New Buffalo owned those locations along with other investors.
He’s especially gratified that when the opportunity came up and “seemed like a no-brainer to try and incorporate our family name and style back to the city of New Buffalo,” it all came together to actually happen. His father Alex Sr. died in 2004, however Nicola and Fernando are retired and doing well.
Look for the Amicarelli touch to return in very short order to Roma Pizza in New Buffalo, located at 17600 Red Arrow Highway. You can reach them by phone at 269-469-3698. The restaurant is open seven days a week and offers dine-in (with a complete bar), take-out, or delivery service.
Congratulations to the Amicarellis on rebuilding the empire and to Jim Kramer whose own successes are many as owner of the new Vivi’s Italian Garden, Schu’s Grill & Bar, and Tim’s Too all in downtown St. Joseph, Nancy’s at the Beach in New Buffalo, and the Wood Fire Italian Trattoria in downtown Dowagiac.
