San's Pizzeria Owner Worked for Free to Learn the Business

31 years ago, East Lake restauranteur Sanford "San" Felder was an eager 22-year-old with a passion for pizza.  

"I've always been interested in in making pizza. When I was young, I worked for free because I wanted to learn," he said.

He may not have received a wage back then, but the time he spent in a Pennsylvania restaurant learning his craft wound up paying off. Now, San and his wife Jackie, 50, own  San's Pizzeria, a thriving pizza joint in East Lake that is loved by locals, many of whom come in so often, he and Jackie know them by name.

"I like the fact that the pizza is crispy and the flavors are wonderful. And I don't even like pizza," said Ridgemoor resident Jean Creaner, who stopped in to pick up an order of white pizza and garlic knots that she phoned in.

Creaner is also a big fan of the calamari. "He makes calamari crispy and that's the way I like it."

San and Jackie met while working together years ago at a McDonald's restaurant in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. "I was his boss back then," said Jackie, laughing. 

The couple opened San's Pizzeria in 1994. The restaurant is a true family affair. Jackie worked at the restaurant while pregnant with the couple's daughter, Cara. She was actually working at the pizzeria the day she went into labor. Now, Cara, 15, also works at San's Pizzeria. San's mother contributes by making tasty desserts like carrot cake and a chocolate chip cheesecake that will have you coming back for more.

San says that in addition to giving great customer service, his pizzeria stands out among the rest because of the food served. "Everything is homemade. I'm proud of everything I do." 

Every pizza is hand-tossed and made-to-order. Pizza is sold by the slice or pie. Customers can dine in, pick up their order, or have their food delivered.

San makes a crispy thin crust and a thick Sicilian. The menu offers a wide variety of pizza options including veggie, meat lovers, margarita, BBQ chicken, Polynesian, Greek, and more. In addition to the pizza's, San's offers appetizers, calzones, stromboli, subs, pasta and dinner entrees.

San's Pizzaria is located at 4842 Ridgemoor Boulevard, (727) 216-6656

• San's Pizzeria website
• San's Pizzeria on Facebook

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