Pizza Company on the market

Different stories are being circulated around town as to the fate of the Winter Garden Pizza Company, and owner Michael Scorsone wants to clear up the misconceptions.

Yes, the restaurant is on the market, but it’s not as simple as that.

Scorsone said someone approached him about purchasing the restaurant, located at 42 W. Plant Street in downtown Winter Garden.

“It was a price I just couldn’t say no to,” he said. “I hired a broker to facilitate the deal. The (potential buyer) backed out.”

Because Scorsone had signed a contract with the broker, he decided to keep the restaurant on the market to see what happens. He said he is not actively selling the business, and he will not negotiate on the $998,500 price.

“This is my home, this is my community,” Scorsone said. “This is where I choose to be, and I’m not going anywhere.”

He opened Michael’s Ali Coal Fired Pizza in the Plant Street Market, just down the road, after the owners repeatedly approached him about opening a pizza place there. He did not want to put a business in place that would compete with the WGPC, so he decided to offer a variation of the pizza he was already selling.

Scorsone bought WGPC in 2007.

The price is for the business only and does not include the 4,200-square-foot space in the Roper Building, which is owned by Marc Grimes and Ann Ellis. The listing broker is William C. Pellatt. For information about the property, call (407) 398-0690.

Contact Amy Quesinberry Rhode @ [email protected].