Is this Manatee pizzeria closed for good? Owner wants to make a comeback
The day before Raven Pizza shuttered its doors, its owner launched a last-ditch fundraising effort to save the pizzeria that’s been a Parrish staple since 1995.
Riccardo Ossola, who bought Raven Pizza in 2024, had to close the restaurant for 14 weeks following Hurricane Milton’s devastating damage. The storm blew the roof off Raven Pizza, located at 8255 U.S. 301, and ruined some equipment.
“The building is falling apart,” Ossola said.
On July 11, Ossola launched a GoFundMe to raise money to pay his staff and find a new location for Raven Pizza to serve the Parrish community.
Ossola said the outpouring of support following the closing announcement inspired him to launch the GoFundMe.
“People reacted in a way that was bigger than I was expecting,” Ossola said. “There are more than 500 comments in different (social media) community groups under our posts on the page. People that love us and try to support us.”
Raven Pizza sets fundraising goal
The GoFundMe has a starting goal of $14,000, but Ossola’s ultimate goal is $100,000. That amount would allow Ossola to find a new space in Parrish and pay his staff. As of Wednesday, the GoFundMe has generated nearly $3,000 in donations.
“With ($100,000), I will be able to give the deposit for a new place, buy new equipment that the storm had destroyed and be able to have money to sustain the employees for the first month of the launch,” Ossola said.
Ossola announced the GoFundMe on social media, which prompted supportive comments from community members.
“This is just so sad,” one person wrote. “Everyone loves Ravens.”
Another said, “I was driving by Raven’s today thinking, there has got to be some way for them to stay open … an investor or something.”
On top of the social media comments, Raven Pizza also received a handwritten letter from a local family. The Cestero family wrote to thank the restaurant for its role in Parrish.
“Thank you all for your hard work and your continued dedication to serve the Parrish community,” the note reads. “We know that some days are more difficult than others and yet you all maintain kindness as well as patience. We know it’s not much, but we hope this small token of our appreciation can be shared with the Raven team as a token of our appreciation towards you all.”
A Parrish pizza staple for 30 years
Raven Pizza started in 1995. It has had multiple owners over the years, but serving pizza in Parrish remained a constant.
Ossola became the restaurant’s owner in July 2024. Hurricane Milton caused a 14-week closure. In January, the pizzeria fully reopened.
A popular menu item was the Original Raven, which was two large pizzas with two toppings each for $32.99.
Customer favorites also included the deluxe and meat lover pizzas as well as garlic knots.
“If it wasn’t for all of these people asking me to do something to keep the place working, I would probably just have closed,” Ossola said. “I said, ‘Why not? Let’s try.’ Worst-case scenario, it’s going to be a relief of pressure of the financial side and a good … help for our employees to have a good, goodbye.”
