Dear Friends,

I extend a cordial and warm welcome from the Della Rocca and Thristino family.
Our history begins with the arrival of Great-Grandfather Dominick (Shoquarille – Happy One) Savino to America’s shores in 1894. As many immigrants did in these early days, he settled near the Brooklyn Navy Yard and began a new life. With his wife and children he would go through the neighborhood streets selling pizza at 5 cents a slice. Eventually, this would transform into a thriving pizza business because of our Great Grandfather and Grandmother Rachel and Pietro Della Rocca who, continued serving pizza and fine Italian food. Rachel and Pietro opened and operated the restaurant when they relocated between Hudson Avenue and Navy Street.

In 1940, they opened Pete’s Restaurant at Myrtle and Carlton Avenue. They were soon followed by the third generation – Rose Anne and Florence who joined the restaurant business. Upon their return from the service, my uncles Alphonse and Dominick Della Rocca joined the business as well. To accommodate their growing business, in April of 1971, they opened Pete’s in Bay Ridge, located on Bay Ridge Avenue. Peter and I, the fourth generation, joined our uncles. My uncles sought to expand their horizons and opened a new restaurant on Amboy Road in Staten Island.

In 1975, my brother Peter and I decided to expand once again, and opened a restaurant in Patchogue, Long Island. This venture was the preceding one before our present business in the community we love- Bay Ridge. The restaurant business flourished, and Pete’s on 4th Avenue as well as Thristino’s on Third Avenue became two of Brooklyn’s most popular places to dine.

To further extend our presence, Peter ventured down under the Brooklyn Bridge and opened Pete’s Downtown. Likewise, Thristino's restaurant was rejuvenated to what is now J.T.’s Restaurant on Third Avenue. J.T.’s has become a culinary blend of traditional Italian food, fused and influenced by the emerging culture around us. J.T’s offers a superb dining experience with foods that are cooked to order as well as catering to private parties.

 

Cordially,