Body
WHEREAS, Beto's in Banksville has been serving their unique pizza for over 54 years on Banksville Road, using freshly shredded provolone cheese for their uncommon practice of putting it on the pizza after it comes out of the oven; and,
WHEREAS, in 1961, Jim Van Newkirk, Sr. worked for Mr. Morabeto, from whom the name Beto's came from, for 6 months when Beto's was a take-out only pizza shop in a small building next to the current location, and took over the business using a contract drawn up on a paper napkin; and,
WHEREAS, at the same time Beto's was up and running, Jim Van Newkirk, Jr. was operating Jim's Pizza and Dairy Cream located on Route 88 for 15 years until he took over the family business from his father in 1977; and,
WHEREAS, in the fall of 1977, they purchased their current building, located at 1473 Banksville Road, which was home of the former Truevine Baptist Church; and in 2008,renovations were made to double the seating area and expand the kitchen to keep up with the increasing demand; and,
WHEREAS, Beto's is now in its 3rd generation of family members. Kathy and Jim Van Newkirk, who call themselves "semi-retired" and their children, Michael, Leah, and Jamie, who remembers cleaning tables and folding pizza boxes as early as age 7. In addition, Jamie's husband David Pipes works at the shop and it is not uncommon to call upon other relatives anytime they need extra help; and,
WHEREAS, Beto's has shipped pizza throughout the U.S. and to Afghanistan and has welcomed special guests such as media celebrities Timyka Artist, Alby Oxenreiter, and Mike Lange and other personalities such as Jesse Jackson and Al Gore, for whom the Secret Service had to close Banksville Road so he could get a taste of Beto's Pizza; and,
Title
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize Beto's Restaurant for their commitment to the City of Pittsburgh, District 2, and its loyal customers wh...
Click here for full text