You are reading

Fire Destroys Pizzeria in Astoria, Owners Launch GoFundMe as They Attempt to Rebuild

Fire destroyed Retro Pizza in Astoria Monday, The owners have launched a GoFundMe in order to rebuild (Photo: Instagram)

May 13, 2021 By Ryan Songalia

The owners of an Astoria pizzeria whose business was destroyed in a fire Monday are calling on the public for funds so they can rebuild.

Daisy Avraamides, who opened Retro Pizza on Broadway with her family seven years ago, launched a GoFundMe Tuesday following a fire that caused extensive damage to the electrical and plumbing systems, as well as the ceiling and equipment. The fire took place at 4:30 a.m. and there were no injuries.

Avraamides, 53, said she needs help since their insurance policy is “very basic” and they were told it “is not going to really cover anything.”

The fundraiser, which she started at the urging of customers, has already raised approximately $25,000 from 400 donors, with some residents giving as much as $500. She aims to raise $70,000 to purchase new equipment and repair the store’s infrastructure.

“I’m here 24/7 trying to make a living. We have our three kids, trying to pay their education. We’re just a family trying to survive, to do something better in life,” Avraamides said.

The family has been in the pizzeria business for decades.

Avraamides and her husband, Leo, owned a pizzeria in Manhattan 20 years ago but had to close it when Leo became ill and they moved to his home country of Cyprus.

When they returned to the U.S., they opened Retro Pizza at 41-02 Broadway, taking over a space that had previously been a deli. Avraamides said they spent the first year paying back the money they’d borrowed to get back in business. Now their three children work with them in the shop.

“The only thing we know is to make pizza,” Avraamides said.

When the pandemic struck, Avraamides said they remained open the entire time, donating pies to local police stations, Mount Sinai Hospital and to people in need.
Now it is Avraamides who is calling for help and is need.

Customers have expressed their grief following the fire and have vowed to support the pizzeria when its doors reopen.

“I’m so sorry to hear what happened, and I wish the Retro team all the best in rebuilding. I’ll be the first in line for a slice whenever you reopen!,” wrote Sarah Mastrocola on the GoFundMe page.

“You were there during the pandemic, and you need us now,” added Luis Daniel Caballeros.

“Retro is such a great part of our Astoria community! Daisy, you have watched our kids grow and taken such good care of us. We’re happy to humbly return the favor. It feels like you’ve been here a lot longer than 7 years!,” said Erin Acosta.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Retro Pizza Cafe (@retro_pizza_cafe)

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Astoria doctor sentenced to more than two decades in prison for rape and sexual abuse: DA

An Astoria doctor was sentenced to 24 years in prison on Thursday in Queens Supreme Court for raping unconscious acquaintances and sexually abusing hospital patients.

Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng, 35, of Broadway, pleaded guilty on June 30 to four counts of rape in the first degree and three counts of sexual abuse in the first degree in satisfaction of the consolidated indictments against him. He additionally entered an Alford plea to one count of sexual abuse. The defendant — a former gastroenterologist at New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital — recorded the abuse of his unconscious victims with his cell phone in both his Astoria apartment and at the hospital.

Halletts Point esplanade in Astoria opens, reconnecting community to East River waterfront

Aug. 22, 2025 By Bill Parry

When The Durst Organization broke ground on its massive Halletts Point project in Astoria on a cold winter day in January 2016, the speeches were delivered inside a massive brick warehouse that had cut off public access to a stretch of East River waterfront for generations. That warehouse is long gone, demolished and then replaced by two high-rise residential towers, 20 and 30 Halletts Point, which launched leasing earlier this year, and a 58,000-square-foot waterfront esplanade that opened to the public this month.

Queens Together launches ‘Unofficial US Open Dining Guide’ encouraging fans to sample restaurants along the 7 line

Aug. 20, 2025 By Shane O’Brien

The US Open returns to Flushing Meadows Corona Park this Sunday, with more than 1 million attendees anticipated to take mass transit to the iconic annual tennis event. With hundreds of thousands of fans set to take the 7 out to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, there is a world of delicious local eateries lying beneath the elevated train tracks should any fan wish to stop en-route to the US Open.