After more than a decade, Lansing Pizzeria continues to serve

On a typical Friday night, the phone is ringing off the hook at Lansing Pizzeria as families in the area call their go-to dinner stop for weekend nights.

The restaurant is located at 2035 E. Shore Dr. in Lansing and was opened originally as LakeBreeze Pizza and Ice Cream in the 1980s.

Current owner Abdul Hamdei bought the restaurant and reopened it as Lansing Pizzeria in March 2010.

In addition to pizza and wings, the restaurant also offers subs, gyros, falafel and strombolis. It is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Hamdei said that while business struggled during the pandemic, he has continued to stay open because of the enthusiasm of his employees and the community.

“It’s kept going because it had to work,” he said with a laugh. “We’re working hard. That’s why [it’s kept going], and we’re trying to do our best.”

Hamdei is especially proud of the quality of pizza served at the restaurant. He moved to Ithaca 14 years ago and understands how important pizza is to upstate New York.

He said that while other restaurants in Lansing serve pizza, he thinks that his pizzeria has found a unique place in the community’s heart because of the quality. He also tries to make sure that the restaurant orders enough food to fit its needs so there isn’t food waste.

“We try to make everything fresh,” he said. “It’s our dough. Our sauce, we make it here. If it’s fresh, it’s more healthy, and we use what we need.”

While business can be booming on a Friday or Saturday night, there is a threat looming up the road.

A  Dandy Mini-Mart has been proposed on the corner of Route 34 and Route 34B, on a 4.7-acre plot of land across the street from Rogues Harbor Inn (see tinyurl.com/29cm2kq3). Dandy as a chain also sells pizza by the slice or by the pie.

Dandy has proposed a 6,100-square-foot convenience store on the site with gasoline and diesel fueling islands. The proposal also calls for space for a drive-thru window and fuel tank storage.

Hamdei said he had heard of the possibility of a Dandy being built just up the road and knew it could have an impact on his profits, especially during the lunch rush.

“It’s going to be hard for us, especially for lunch time,” he said. “I think families will still want a [whole] pizza for dinner, but employees who do construction or other jobs like something that is quick.”

He said that the restaurant does more business by selling individual slices than entire pizzas. When the pandemic hit upstate New York, he said lunch sales dropped.

“It’s normal; I think it’s like that everywhere,” he said. “Before COVID, lunch time was good. Now, lunches have slowed, and it’s not like before.”

Winter can be a difficult time for business in Lansing. While summer might be associated with grilling hot dogs and hamburgers, winter is a time when most people stay inside and are more inclined to order a pizza.

Hamdei said he hasn’t seen that trend during his 12 years of owning the pizzeria.

“Lansing is a small area, and some people leave for the winter,” he said. “We have regulars who come in at the end of the end November, and we’ll say, ‘Bye, see you next year.’”

Hamdei said that he is one of two full-time employees at Lansing Pizzeria, with other people working part time to help make the restaurant run.

While the restaurant offers many different menu options, he said he’s most proud of the quality of the food that represents the name of the restaurant.

“I think we’re most proud of the pizza and wings,” he said. “Everyone likes pizza and wings.”

Orders can be called in to Lansing Pizzeria at (607) 533-3552.

Lansing at Large appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com.

In brief:

Lansing to fix potholes

Lansing town officials recently approved $45,000 worth of funds to improve roads in the town, focusing on potholes.

The money will be reimbursed by New York state’s Pave Our Potholes program.

Lansing Town Supervisor Ed LaVigne did not respond to a request for comment from Tompkins Weekly within press deadline.

Lansing Town Board to meet 

The Lansing Town Board will hold its monthly meeting July 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Lansing Town Hall, located at 29 Auburn Rd.

Among the agenda items is public comment on proposed law No. 6 of 2022, which addresses overriding the tax levy limit.

Those who can’t make the meeting can view it on YouTube at tinyurl.com/28m7a2mn.