Call your friends from the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s, because The Fireside is so back, baby.
After sitting dormant for nearly 15 years, the 1631 Eastern Parkway building in Schenectady that was home to the beloved pizzeria is being restored by none other than local restaurateur Tommy Nicchi, who also owns The Broken Inn in Niskayuna, The Comedy Works in Saratoga, The Horses Lounge in Schenectady, and The Parlor at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course.
“I want to bring the feel back,” Nicchi said in a Facebook post. “I don’t like new. I like renew. We’re going to be able to save the fireplace, the upstairs bar and the staircase. I’ve even purchased a Pac-Man table machine and tried to replicate the old logo because those are things I still vividly remember. And of course we’re gonna trial and error like crazy until we can successfully bring back that Fireside pizza.”
In his efforts to restore the original charm, character, and tastes of The Fireside, Nicchi has been in communication with members of the Pace family, whose late patriarch, Bob Pace, built and operated the restaurant from its founding in 1978 to its closure in 2011. “They’ve been so wonderful, sharing old photos and stories and talking about the staff and of course how their pizza was made,” Nicchi said. “There have been tears and smiles at each meeting.”
Excited about the news? You’re not alone. “This place means so much to so many people in this city, myself included,” the new owner said. “Literally decades after their last visit, when I mention it to people, they still just light up. It is beloved and it really has a legacy.”
People have taken to social media to share their fondest memories of the joint, which is slated to reopen in 2026. Here are the best comments we’ve seen so far:
“I can remember the wood fire smell and hear the creaky floor as soon as you walked in, and the hostess being right there at the host stand, before the stairs. There was always a bowl of pastel mints with a spoon in it at the host stand, we’d sneak some before dinner as kids.” -Kelly M.
“I had more Fireside pizzas in my life than I could ever try counting. It was an institution growing up Schenectady and I always loved that you smelled the hearth as soon as you walked in the door. Sadly, the last time I was there was to celebrate the life of a friend who was taken far too early. It was one of his favorite restaurants and we went there after his wake to tell stories, laugh and cry. I can’t wait to go back and raise a glass to his memory and have that pizza once again.” -Shannon G.
“I met my future wife, My Bride, there in 1983 on a blind date. We were married in ‘85 and are celebrating 40 years this month. We loved that place and spent a lot of time there with friends, upstairs and downstairs. The food was great. The atmosphere was great (especially decorated for the Christmas season)! The free garlic bread and wings during happy hour were killer. It was an institution!! So thrilled that it’s being saved AND restored so that it looks like it did way back when. Much Success…we WILL be there when it opens. THANK YOU for the oppty to ‘come back home!!’” -Lane P.
“I worked at the bank across the street and I recall every few days we’d order the best pizza from there and always on Friday’s we all go over for our weekly favorite drinks and play pac-man on the table game….It was an amazing memory I’ll always cherish them.” -Tim N.
“3.17.79: my first date with my now husband, was at The Fireside. We will be married 40 years next year- just in time for the grand reopening! So excited ♥️.” -Regina M.
“This is exciting 💜I too worked at The Fireside for a very long time. Remember when you dropped the wood window on my head Pina?” -Shannon L.
“Pure nostalgia. I can picture sitting in the dining room next to the fire place with those black pizza plates they always used. Smoking was allowed upstairs. The memories.” -Troy W.
“On January 3, 1984, my family enjoyed a holiday fun dinner at a downstairs table, across from the fireplace, with our table full of pizzas. Within hours, one of us, gave birth to my son, Mike Johnson. We talked about that every year after that, when we celebrated his birthday there.” -Mike J.
Follow along The Fireside’s restoration journey on its new Facebook and Instagram accounts.
