Welcome to Phil’s Pizzeria in Middleville, Michigan! 

Once upon a time…in a state, far, far away…..picture it….Michigan in the mid seventies…… Ross Sclafani, better known as “Phil” helped a friend open up a pizza shop in downtown Grand Rapids.  It was his first trip to Michigan and he fell in love with area.  The farms reminded him of his childhood in Italy.  He went back home to New York with hopes to someday return to Michigan permanently. 

In 1980, Phil sold his pizza business in Staten Island, packed up his family and moved out “west”.  (okay, the Grand Rapids area)  While getting his car serviced on 28th street, a salesman noticed his New York plates and asked what he did for a living.  Phil told him he was currently an unemployed pizza man.  The guy told him the town he lived in could use a pizza shop, and directions to Caledonia were exchanged.

Phil and his wife, Maria, headed south down M-37 towards Caledonia, but apparently passed up the Main Street they were supposed to turn on. (Silly city folks thought there would be a traffic light!)  They kept heading south and found a Main Street with a traffic light, turned left and found an empty store that would be perfect for a pizza shop.  (Of course, it wasn’t Caledonia)  In September of 1980, Phil’s Pizzeria was opened. 

People always asked where the name Phil’s came from.  The name came from the first pizzeria that Ross had owned with his two brother-in-laws in Manhattan on Broadway.   It was where he started in the pizza business in New York and Middleville was another start.  Now, twenty-something (almost thirty) years later, you will find “Phil”, Maria, and kids still running the shop.

http://phils-pizzeria.blogspot.com/