by Sharon Still

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For four years since opening its Riverview location,East Coast Pizza has earned accolades as the best pizza in South Shore and now Lithia residents can enjoy the great taste of the restaurant’s New York brickoven pizza and other Italian dishes at its new location in the Ace Hardware-anchored plaza on Lithia Pinecrest Rd. and C.R. 39.

Owned by native New Yorker Aaron Fredericks, East Coast Pizza offers much more than just pizza, including strombolis, calzones, pasta dishes, salads, heroes, lunch specialsand desserts.

Every item is made with the best and the freshest ingredients available with all of the sauce and dough made fresh daily and using only 100 percent of the finest mozzarella cheese.

Additionally, every pizza is hand-tossed and baked to order in the restaurant’s brick ovens.

Fredericks attributes much of his success to his staff, including Scott Childers and Mike Weslock who are the managers at the Lithia store. “Most of my staff in Riverview has been with me for 3 plus years and we are like a big family,” he says.

Fredericks also plans to continue his commitment to the community at the new location by becoming involved in local events, charities, school functions and sports teams. Part of his reason for
choosing the Lithia area to open a new store is because it is a busy area with a lot of residents, families and schools around. “I believe in giving back to the ones that help make my store so successful,” he adds.

Something new coming to both locations is the East Coast Pizza loyalty program that will reward customers that frequent either store. Fredericks adds that there also will be weekly and monthly specials and the introduction of some new menu items.

Sometime in the next month, the Lithia location will begin delivery to the local area. While the Riverview store does not offer delivery, Fredericks says that it is possible that it will be added in
the future.

East Coast Pizza’s Lithia location is at 10433 C.R. 39 S.

Store hours at both locations are 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday and
Saturday, and 12 Noon-9 p.m. Sunday.

The new location can be reached at 737-1919.