For 40-plus years, Alfonzo’s Pizzeria has been all about family and tradition. Alfonzo’s, located at 611 Edwardsville Road in Troy, was founded by Mike Paolucci, a third-generation Italian American. Alfonzo’s is a family business still operated by Mike, his wife Lori, his son Joe, and Amber Herron.

“We started the restaurant in 1982,” said Mike Paolucci, who is originally from Buffalo. “I was in the Air Force for five years and I had the great fortune to be stationed in Naples, Italy. My ancestry is from Italy, and I had a chance to visit my family when I was over there, and pizza started in Naples.”