Pizza 15 Braves Storm, Continues to Serve Dozens

While most residents and businesses around Morris and Sussex counties have been out of power since Monday when Tropical Storm Sandy ripped through the state, Pizza 15 in Jefferson was one of the few lucky places that was not impacted by the tragic storm.

Walking into the restaurant on Route 15, you would never know the chaos going on outside. The pizza place never lost power once, according to owner Mike Pugliese.

Pugliese said the restaurant closed on Monday because he thought they were going to lose power, but once they returned on Tuesday, they were up and running, serving dozens of customers until their food ran out.

Customers have been coming in from all over the area, Pugliese said, and he said in one day they served the amount of customers they would normally serve in a week.

"We've seen everyone from Newton, Dover, Sparta, Jefferson, Wharton, Rockaway, anybody," he said, "because were the only place open in probably 10 miles. We've had people all over the place."

Pugliese said on Tuesday they ran out of bread, but said he's been making trips back and forth to his other restaurant, Casa Mia, in Sparta.

Casa Mia lost power Monday night, but was one of the Lake Mohawk businesses that was restored on Wednesday night. Pugliese said he plans to open Casa Mia on Thursday.

Pizza 15 will remain open everyday, and will stay open until the food items run out.