The Famed Prince Pizzeria Celebrates Its 65th Anniversary! (With A History of the Restaurant)

A hearty and well deserved congratulations to Prince Pizzeria, and owner Steven Castraberti, which celebrates its 65th Anniversary next week, on Monday, June 1. Founded by Arthur Castraberti, Steven's father, in 1961, the restaurant has survived these many years on Route 1 in Saugus, adapting to the times, experimenting with new concepts, yet never losing its core values or forgetting that at its heart, it's a pizzeria. Few restaurants survive this long so it's a great achievement to be celebrating 65 years in business. 

I highly recommend you stop by Prince Pizzeria next Monday, congratulate Steve, and check out the anniversary specials that will be offered. There will be Cheese Pizzas for 99 cents, Meatballs for 65 cents, and Drinks for 10 cents. There are all prices that Arthur Castreberti charged when he first opened Prince Restaurant. Even if you can't make it then, please visit Prince soon, enjoy some pizza and Italian food, and savor a taste of history. 

I've been dining at Prince since I was a child and I still dine there regularly, usually ordering pizza although their Meatball Sliders are another favorite of mine. I first wrote about Prince Pizzeria on my blog back in 2009, raving about their $5 All-You-Can-Eat Pizza Buffet, offered at lunch, which included multiple pizzas, ziti, sauce, garlic bread and dessert pizza. What an incredible value! By 2018, the buffet price had risen to only $8, and still was a great value. It was one of the best lunch deals you could find anywhere. Sadly, the buffet didn't survive COVID, although an abbreviated version was attempted for a short time. 

Back in 2009, Prince Pizzeria made it to my year-end list of my Favorite Restaurants of 2009, and has been on my Favorite lists for many years, including my latest list, My Top 50 Favorite Restaurants of 2025. And I'm sure it will continue to be included on these lists for years to come. 

I know that I'm not alone with many pleasant memories of Prince Pizzeria. In a recent Facebook post on the Prince page, many people shared some of their memories, of families who have dined there for multiple generations, for many different occasions. Steve mentioned to me that he was surprised how many people mentioned they had their first date at Prince. 

I now want to provide some highlights of the history of Prince Pizzeria, from its origin through its changes over the decades. This is not a fully comprehensive history, and I may expand it in the future. Hopefully, after reading this article, you'll gain a greater appreciation for this restaurant and its achievements over 65 years.   

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The origin of Prince Pizzeria actually extends back 70 years! The Daily Item (Lynn, MA), December 12, 1956, published the above advertisement noting the Grand Opening of the Leaning Tower Pizza on Route 1 in Saugus. Owned by The Leaning Tower of Pizza, Inc., this drive-in restaurant would be the second of their pizza joints, the first having opened in West Yarmouth on Cape Cod. The Saugus restaurant offered 17 varieties of pizza, including Lobster, Anchovie and Pepper Steak. They also served spaghetti dishes, meatball sandwiches, lasagna, and more. 

Lobster pizza? It seems so fascinating and original, but other restaurants in Massachusetts around this time were also serving lobster pizzas. Back in 1952, the Royal A.A. restaurant, in North Grafton, was "Featuring the Original Lobster Pizza." And in 1958, the Wishing Well Restaurant in Springfield offered "Our Famous Lobster Pizzas."

I'll also note that in 1940, there were less than 100 pizza places in the U.S., but there would be a huge pizza boom during the next twenty years, so that by 1957, there were about 20,000 pizza places across the U.S. So, the creation of the Leaning Tower Pizza was trying to capitalize on that trend. And the great popularity of pizza still exists today, with approximately 70,000-75,000 pizzerias across the country, as well as plenty of other restaurants which offer pizza. 

According to Steve Castraberti, it was around 1957 that Prince's unique style of pizza was created, by two Portuguese brothers, and this style of pizza is still served today, albeit with a slight difference. It is reminiscent in some ways to a Greek pizza, without being greasy, as it is made in a pan, a 13 inch pan which is more unusual as the most common sizes at that time were 12 inch and 16 inch. The pizza was originally made with a mild cheddar that was cooked for about 13 minute at 550 degrees. Mozzarella couldn't withstand the heat for that long, so it wasn't used. Today though, they have found a mozzarella that can withstand the heat so their cheese is a blend of cheddar and mozzarella. Currently, Prince Pizzeria makes about 10,000 pizzas a week!

     

The Daily Item, December 27, 1956, printed the above photo of the new restaurant, showing its "Leaning Tower." Sadly, the photo is a bit dark so it's hard to see all the details. 

The Daily Item, December 31, 1956, had this ad for the Leaning Tower, recommending people "Have a New Year's Pizza Party."  

The Daily Item, May 16, 1957, posted an ad for their Patio Week, offering a free drink with each pizza, free souvenirs, and discounted prices on their junior pizza and junior meatball sandwich. 

The Daily Item, July 16, 1957, noted that the Leaning Tower had held a pizza eating contest, although the details of the contest weren't provided. I suspect it was a timed event, seeing how much pizza the contestants could eat within that specified time period. The winner was Andrew T. Valarie, of Magnolia, who out-ate all of the other contestants. He won a year's supply of free pizza!   

The Quincy Patriot Ledger, July 12, 1957, published the above ad, indicating the Grand Opening of another Leaning Tower of Pizza in Quincy. The menu was nearly the same as the one in Saugus. 

A review of the Saugus location. The Daily Item, August 16, 1957, detailed its impressions of the Leaning Tower in Saugus. “One of the most unique eating establishments in the North Shore area is the Leaning Tower of Pizza, located on the southbound lane of the Newburyport Turnpike in Saugus near the intersection of the Lynn-Fells Parkway.” The article continued, “More than 4,000 tasty pizzas weekly are served at this distinctive restaurant,…” That was quite an impressive amount of pizzas.

The article then noted, “Its success has inspired the construction of an additional Leaning Tower of Pizza at Quincy last month.” This was the third location of the chain. The Saugus location also offered “what is claimed to be the largest meatball sandwich in New England with six deliciously spiced meatballs in it.” In addition, “Vincent Catania, general manager, points out that all pizzas are made to order ready to take out. They may either be eaten on one of the many attractive patios beautifully landscaped with flowers or shrubs, in the customers’ car or taken home.” The article concluded, “The delicious pizzas invariably call for repeat orders and the unique New England institution is drawing throngs of tourists from all over the nation.”

A business merger! The Quincy Patriot Ledger, July 2, 1958, Boston Globe, July 4, 1958, and Jewish Advocate, July 10, 1958, detailed that The Leaning Tower of Pizza, Inc. would merge with the Prince Macaroni Co. The operating division would be known as Prince Italian Foods Management Corp. They planned to construct a chain of pizza drive-ins on a number of main highways throughout the East Coast. A new location in Wareham was set to open shortly. 

Prince Macaroni, aka Prince Pasta, was founded in 1912, when 3 Sicilian immigrants opened a pasta shop in Boston's North End at 92 Prince Street. Eventually, as the company grew, it moved its operations to Lowell. And for nearly three years, they would own the Leaning Tower, although the restaurant would end up with significant financial problems. 

Post merger, the Daily Item, August 15, 1958, published an advertisement for the Prince of Pizza at the Leaning Tower. The newspaper also had an article stating the restaurant "is to be substantially enlarged so that it will also include an attractive enclosed patio with murals, Italian white wrought iron furniture and many other attractive features to add to the atmosphere." In addition, "Many new items have been added to the menu including chicken cacciatore, ravioli, veal scallopini and many others."

The Quincy Patriot Ledger, November 18, 1958, had the above ad, noting the Saugus and Quincy locations. The ad also mentioned "Prince Spaghetti Day," which was indicative of the merger with the Prince Macaroni Co.

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Now, our history shifts a bit to Arthur Castraberti. Arthur was born on November 12, 1924 in Somerville to Oreste and Rosalia Castraberti. He grew up in Medford, eventually getting his Bachelor’s degree and Masters in biochemistry at the University of Massachusetts. He originally had plans to be a dentist. Arthur also served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He then first worked for the Canada Dry Corp., before getting a job with the Prince Macaroni Co. Arthur's father, Oreste, had been working for Prince since he was a young man, and would eventually spend 40 years there as a salesman.

Around January 1952, Arthur got engaged to Rose Marie Bucci, the daughter of Mrs. Vincent Bucci and the late Vincent. Around March 1953, they would then be married in Medford. They would eventually have three children: Linda, Paul and Steven. 

According to the Boston Globe, March 26, 1995, Arthur joined the Prince Macaroni company as an assistant to the president, a “position which exposed him to the manufacturing, processing and sales of pasta products.”

The Jewish Advocate, June 25, 1959, noted Arthur's promotion within the company. “General Manager of Prince Italian Foods Management Corp., parent organization of all Prince Drive-In Restaurants, is Arthur Castraberti. Mr. Castraberti, who will work from the main office in Saugus, comes to this post from Prince Macaroni Company of Lowell and New York, where he served as director of plant operations.”  

The Daily Item, August 31, 1959, had this ad, offering a special of a free cheese pizza with the purchase of any other pizza. There was no limit to the amount of free cheese pizzas you could obtain, so you could buy ten pizzas and receive an additional ten free cheese pizzas. 

The Jewish Advocate, December 17, 1959, announced the grand opening of the newest Prince Drive-In Restaurant, located at 593 McGrath Highway, Somerville. To celebrate, there was the selection of a "Princess of Pizza," prizes were awarded, and there was entertainment and on-the-spot radio broadcasts. Michael Cantella, the manager of the new location, received the keys from Arthur Castraberti, General Manager for the company.

The Quincy Patriot Ledger, March 22, 1960, noted that for Lent, the Saugus, Somerville and Quincy locations would offer a free Prince Italian cookbook and package of Prince macaroni with any purchase of $1.00 or more.

1961 would be an important turning point in the history of Prince Pizzeria! At this time, the Saugus drive-in was a failing business, and Prince Macaroni wanted to make changes to turn it around. The specific problems with the location weren't mentioned initially in the newspapers, although later information provided by Arthur Castraberti indicated the staff was a significant problem. Better oversight was probably necessary. 

The company initially offered Arthur Castraberti the management of the drive-in, figuring that he could make it profitable once again. At this time, the drive-in restaurant only had twelve seats, and customers could eat outside at picnic tables, eat in their car, or take the food home. It was said, “Spaghetti and meatballs was passed out through the front window.” 

Arthur was 35 years old, had three children and a mortgage. He refused the offer to become the manager as he actually desired to be self-employed. Instead, he asked to purchase the Saugus restaurant, and offered to use his company stock to buy it. Instead, "Prince gave him the Prince Spaghetti House for no money down, no interest, as long as he made good the business’s liabilities within 10 years.” However, Arthur noted, “I didn’t intend to be a restaurateur. I didn’t know anything about running a restaurant.” He also stated, “I had never been in the kitchen of a restaurant prior to buying one.” It seems curious then that Arthur wanted to purchase the restaurant. 

When Arthur first walked into the restaurant, he found the lone waitress in a corner reading a book while the cook was asleep. So, he immediately fired both of them, unworried that he was firing all of his employees. His wife became the restaurant's bookkeeper, and Arthur also took on his father, Oreste, who was an excellent Italian cook, to assist with the restaurant. For additional income, Arthur worked as a substitute teacher (for the first five years he owned the restaurant), and would rush from the school each day to go to the restaurant, where he would work until closing. 

Arthur “waited on tables, washed dishes, made pizzas and some pasta dishes,..." He also "would take the order, cook the order and deliver the order.” Working with Oreste, and after much experimentation, they developed their iconic red sauce. They sold their first pizza for 95 cents and drinks cost 10 cents. That first year, the restaurant grossed about $100,000 but it wasn't enough for Arthur to draw a salary. The Daily Item, October 20, 1999, noted that 10 years later, Arthur was able to pay off all of the restaurant's debts, completing his deal with Prince Macaroni, and expand the restaurant. 

(The above four paragraphs of info was compiled from the Daily Item, July 3, 1982, Boston Globe, March 26, 1995, Daily Item, October 20, 1999, Daily Item, July 21, 2005, and Daily Item, October 21, 2010.)

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Most of the subsequent newspaper coverage, especially many of their advertisements, for Prince Pizzeria would be in the Daily Item (published in Lynn, MA). The newspaper was published daily, except for Sundays, and was circulated in Lynn, Lynnfield, Swampscott, Saugus, Nahant, Marblehead and Peabody.  

Maybe the first advertisement for Prince Pizza, since Arthur took over ownership, was in The Daily Item, February 6, 1962. The ad offered a Free large size bottle of Canada Dry Flavored Beverage with the order of each pizza. With Arthur's prior connections to Canada Dry, it's understandable why the restaurant would stock Canada Dry products. The ad also noted the restaurant offered 19 varieties of pizza, two more than the prior Leaning Tower had offered, although the additional two varieties weren't mentioned. I'll also mention that Arthur was using the same Prince of Pizza logo that had been previously used before his ownership. 

This is part of the original menu, which you can see today at Prince Pizzeria. 

The Daily Item, August 9, 1963, published an ad offering Take Home Pizza, partially cooked, with the special Buy 3 For The Price of 2. There was also an article in the newspaper, referring to the restaurant as the Prince Spaghetti House, serving 21 varieties of pizza, two more than the prior ad had mentioned. The article didn't mention what those two new varieties were. Were they still serving Lobster Pizza?

And every Saturday evening, there was a "bean buffet," in their Ye Olde Baked Beanery, from 4:30pm-8pm. This bean buffet might not have lasted long as I couldn't find any additional references to it. This buffet was also a break from their usual Italian fare, offering a more traditional New England dish. What other dishes might they have served at the bean buffet? 

A lengthy article about the restaurant appeared in The Daily Item, July 30, 1965, under the title of Prince of Pizza House Noted For Choice Food. The article began, “The Prince of Pizza and Spaghetti House, located on Rt.1, Saugus, at the Lynn Fells traffic lights, has served famous Italian food to North Shore residents for over ten years. The restaurant is easily identified by the distinctive reproduction of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa which adds an Old World touch unique in this area." 

The article continued, "Mr. Arthur Castraberti, proprietor, and his father Oreste, feature a menu listing the widest variety of Italian food available in any restaurant on the North Shore. Quality ingredients, freshly prepared, are then precisely cooked or baked to produce the wholesome and tasty Italian dishes for which the Prince Restaurant is widely recognized.”

It was also mentioned, “The restaurant features a take-out section where foods are specially packed in containers which retain the warmth and the flavor of the food. Another added attraction of the restaurant is a functions room available without charge or obligation as another public service of Prince Restaurant.” It then noted, “In short the Prince Restaurant promises you a most exciting eating adventure. Against a backdrop that is genuinely Italian, and serving delicious Italian foods.” 

Finally, it concluded, “Biggest feature of the Prince Restaurant is that it is providing these fine meals in an informal atmosphere and at moderate prices. Because of these moderate prices family dining at Prince Restaurant is becoming increasingly popular.” Today, despite the changes that would occur over the years, the Prince Restaurant still offers an informal atmosphere and moderate prices. 

The Daily Item, August 12, 1966, provided a large advertisement for Prince, including its menu. The menu included 9 Spaghetti dishes (95 cents to $1.25) as well as a Family Size Spaghetti Bucket ($1.99), which included a half gallon of spaghetti, 5 meatballs, and a choice of meat or meatless sauce. There were 5 Dinner Specialties ($1.25-$1.35), such as Egg Plant Parmigiana, Veal Cacciatore and Baked Lasagna. You also found 9 Sandwiches (45 cents to 79 cents), such as Italian Pork Sausages, Italian Cold Cuts and Cheeseburgers. There were 19 varieties of Pizza ($1.10-$1.85), including Lobster, Clam, Linguica, Anchovie, Salami, Pepperoni, and more. You could also buy Partially Cooked Pizzas (Buy 3 for the price of 2), which you could finish cooking at home in the oven for about 6 minutes.

The Daily Item, August 10, 1967, published an ad with the same menu, and you can see that as year later, the prices had remained the same.

The Daily Item, April 4, 1968, mentioned the Route 1 Businessman's Association, and its newly elected President, Frank Guiffrida, of the Hilltop Steakhouse. Alexander Sampsonis of the Continental was also Vice President, Joseph Caruso of Caruso's Diplomat was Treasurer, and Arthur Castraberti was the Secretary. 

The Daily Item, August 26, 1969, discussed that Arthur had applied for a beer and wine license, and two selectmen were opposed to granting him a license. Those two selectmen though still "had high praise for his operation and his character." Despite the opposition, the license was still granted by a 3-2 vote. One of the opponents, Dr. Frederick J. Wagner, said the restaurant was "a respectable place where young persons congregate" and that a liquor license would change the restaurant, and "spoil it for young persons." It was noted that there were about 23 liquor licenses in the nearby area. So, after eight years, the Prince restaurant now could serve beer and wine with your Italian fare.

The Daily Item, October 23, 1970, posted the above ad, showing a photo of the restaurant. The ad highlighted that it offered "Informal Family Dining" as well as "Quick Service--Quality Foods--Inexpensive Dining." The ad was accompanied by a separate article, which might actually be part of the advertisement. It stated, "The moment you walk in the door, you'll know there's something different about the Prince Spaghetti and Pizza House, Route 1, Saugus. A mouth-watering smell drifts around you. A giant menu informs you what might be causing all those delicious aromas. They're all being cooked and simmered with care by Albert Castraberti and his dad." 

The Daily Item, December 9, 1970, briefly noted that Arthur was now the President of the Route 1 Businessmen's Association. The Daily Item, December 16, 1970, went into more detail about the Association. "The association is striving to become the voice that Route-1ers believe they need this year." There were potentially 168 members, although so far, only 98 had shown interest and 63 had become members. The association had an office at 200 Broadway with a full-time secretary. 

The Daily Item, October 29, 1971, offered this advertisement, with a photo of the restaurant from a different angle than the prior ad. The ad was accompanied by a short separate article, noting Prince had 25 employees. It was also mentioned that the restaurant served wine and beer. 

The Daily Item, June 12, 1972, ran an ad, "What's More American than Apple Pie?" Their answer was Pizza and Beer! 

The Daily Item, October 27, 1972, ran an ad for Prince of Pizza, which noted it now served over 20 varieties of pizza, homemade pastas, Dinner Specials from $1.55 and a Children's Menu from 79 cents. It was also open daily from 11am to 1am. The ad was accompanied by a short separate article, which noted the restaurant recently expanded, adding a large brick fireplace, huge beams, wood paneling, and blue and red tables and chairs. They also added entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings, including Stan Gerome, who teamed with singer-comedian Paul Floyd and other guests. 

The Daily Item, October 30, 1973, offered this ad, with a black background, noting its "warm informal family atmosphere" and "Moderately priced." The ad also highlighted their beer, imported and domestic wines, and sing-alongs. 

The Daily Item, October 25, 1974, had a short article about the Prince of Pizza, noting they had recently opened a new room, The Prince Wagon and Wheels Room. Arthur had purchased an old barn and its contents, and used them to decorate this new room. Some of the decorations included saws, picks, scythes, sickles, milk cans, coal hods, lanterns, and fish netting. There was a lumber wagon inside the room where entertainers sat, leading singalongs each night. The restaurant was also noted to have a special banquet menu for groups of 200 or more. I'll also note that other articles mentioned the new room's name was actually Wheels and Wagon Room.

The Daily Item, November 26, 1974, reported that Arthur had applied for an all-alcoholic beverage license, and the matter was taken under advisement. It would be later granted.

The Daily Item, June 6, 1975, had the above advertisement, promoting their Happy Hour, from 4pm-7pm, offering daily cocktails, free hors' doeuvres, and entertainment in their Wheels & Wagon Room. 

The Daily Item, October 31, 1975, published photo of the exterior sign for the new Wheels and Wagon Room, as well as interior photos. The ad was accompanied by a short separate article, which noted they recently started offering a "lunchtime salad bar, all you can eat special." This cost $1.75, and it was mentioned it included cold cuts, cheeses, garlic bread and salads. 

The Daily Item, October 29, 1976, had a short article noting Prince now had a special teenage room, "a place where youngsters may congregate for food and fun." In this room, alcohol was not sold and there was a jukebox and dancing area. 

The Boston Herald American, May 22, 1977, detailed how Arthur was promoting a legal cause. He was “.., a restaurant owner, is tired of seeing businessmen receive all of the punishment for serving youths, while the youths themselves go free after using phony identification to buy beer, wine or liquor.”; He stated, “Nothing ever happens to the kid who pushed the identification on the businessmen, ..." Arthur also added,  “Over the years, ... he has seen honest businessmen hurt economically and psychologically after being charged with selling alcoholic beverages to persons under the legal drinking age, 18.”

Arthur was now pushing a bill he submitted to the Legislature through Rep. Robert A. Vigneau (D-Burlington). “The bill would put more onus on minors who purchase alcoholic beverages by using false statements or false identification. Offenders would be subject to fines of $50 and $100, depending on the offense.” 

As a follow-up, The Sun, August 2, 1978, reported that Governor Michael Dukakis had signed an amendment to state law that provided stiffer fines for misrepresentation of age in order to procure alcoholic beverages. Arthur was present at the signing. 

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The Daily Item, June 3, 1977, noted that Arthur has recently added a new room to the Prince Restaurant, the Crepe Room. This room would offer a variety of "home made dinner and dessert crepes." The room serves lunch, and for dinner, there is soft music and a romantic atmosphere. The above ad shows photos of the interior of the new Crepe Room.

The Daily Item, August 19, 1977, presented another ad for the Crepe Room. The ad offered guests a free glass of wine and a mini-dessert with your crepes order. The ad had a brief menu of crepes, including: Scallops, Chicken, Broccoli, Ratatouille and Spinach. Plus, you could help yourself to their cheese and salad bar. 

The Daily Item, October 28, 1977, mentioned that Bill Lord was the manager and host of the Crepe Room. It was also stated, "The Crepe Room has drawn praise from patrons and restaurateurs alike as one of the most tastefully decorated dining rooms on Route 1."

The Daily Item, June 9, 1978, provided a photo of the Crepe Room. Accompanying information  indicated that Bill Lord was still the manager. In addition, it was noted some of the French dishes, besides crepes, available in this room, including Quiche Lorraine, Beef Bourguionne over Rice Pilaf, and Chicken Cordon Bleu. It was also mentioned that the Crepe Room could hold 150 people.  

A job promotion? The Daily Item, January 31, 1979, noted that the chef in the Crepe Room was Bill Lord, a teacher at the Northeast Regional Vocational School and a producer of his own television program, The Chef's Kitchen, on food preparation. Lord, born in Australia, worked as a cook in a number of Australia's top hotels. In 1969, and became a culinary arts instruction at the Vocational school. 

The Boston Herald American, February 11, 1979, ran an ad, mentioning that the Crepe Room was still in operation at Prince. However, it appears the Crepe Room may have closed sometime in 1979, as references to it ended that year. 

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Unfortunate news. The Daily Item, May 1, 1978, printed the obituary for Oreste Castraberti, Arthur's father. Oreste had been 87 years old, lived in Medford, and worked at Prince until recently. He died in a hospital after a lengthy illness. It was noted that he had worked with his son, Arthur, at the Prince Restaurant for about 20 years. He had previously worked for 40 years as a salesman at the Prince Macaroni Manufacturing Co. 

The Sun, July 27, 1978, mentioned that “Steve Castraberti has taken half of the locally-revered Prince Leaning Tower of Pizza and transformed it into a 300-seat club with a dance floor. Every Friday and Saturday, the Wheels & Wagon room presents bands like The Zaitchik Brothers, Gypsy, and the George T. Gregory Band. Occasionally, country-rockers Chuck McDermott and Wheatstraw come in for some hootin’ and hollerin’. Cover is usually $1 or $2, dress is casual, they have a full liquor license, and, yes, you can get pizza with your music.” 

The Daily Item, June 14, 1979, presented this ad for Prince Restaurant, mentioning, “At Prince Restaurant there are no customers—just family.” The ad also noted their Sunday Brunch Buffet ($3.99/$2.99 for children under 12). They also now offered a "complete party service", catering for any event.  

The Daily Item, May 19, 1980, published this ad, noting "We're Fighting Inflation." It noted "Good food at moderate prices has been a long standing Prince tradition. It's a promise Arthur Castreberti made to his customers long ago. We've stuck to it."

The Daily Item, November 14, 1980, ran the above ad, stating "Whatever your mood we've go Food, Food, Food." There were photos of nothing Arthur and his wife, Rose Marie. The ad was accompanied by a short separate article, noting Thursday was Big Band Night, with Dick Donovan and his 20-piece band playing hits from the 1940s and 1950s. In addition, Johnny Corcoran, an Irishman who sang country western and Irish ballads on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.  

The Daily Item, June 12, 1981, had this ad, "Feast Italian!" with a photo of Arthur and Rose Marie.

10 Million pizzas! The Daily Item, November 13, 1981, provided this informative ad about Prince Restaurant. First, it was noted that Prince had sold over ten million pizzas during its twenty years of operation. It was said, "Prince is the Northeast's largest independent pizzeria." Second, it was mentioned, "Dough, sauce, and condiments made fresh daily in our kitchen. Dozens of varieties and combination from $4.00 to $6.50. Whole wheat crust and vegetarian pizza available." Third, a list of Dinner Specials were presented, priced from $4.25 to $5.50. Fourth, a couple specialties were noted, including Quiche and Calzone. 

The Daily Item, June 29, 1982, presented the above ad, stating "Kids Of All Ages Love The Pizza And Pasta At Prince." The ad was accompanied by a short separate article, noting "While the popular Prince Restaurant on Route 1 has diversified in recent years, it is still first and foremost a pizzeria." This holds true in the present day, as the heart of the Prince restaurant remains a pizzeria. 

The Daily Item, July 3, 1982, ran a lengthy profile of Arthur Castraberti, also known as “King Auturo.”  I've already mentioned some of the information in this article earlier in this post. The article about Arthur began, noting, “He is a man with deep religious convictions and sentimental feelings about his family as dated as ‘Father Knows Best’ reruns. He says he is still ‘madly in love’ with his wife of 29 years, Rosemarie.”

He currently ran the “Prince Spaghetti House,” a 700 seat restaurant. He owned an oceanfront home in Gloucester and another in Florida, but drove a 1973 Dodge Dart. Arthur stated, “I do not worship money,..” and “Money is just a by-product of success.” Arthur had an office on the second floor of the restaurant, "equipped with a television screen which monitors the restaurant and an intercom system which keeps him in constant contact with his farflung staff.”

In addition, “He makes decisions on the split second and seals deals with a handshake.” He then added, “I don’t believe in contracts….I haven’t signed a contract in 15 years.” Five years after purchasing the Prince restaurant, he finally saw progress. And after 10 years, he felt secure enough to expand the restaurant. “He had created a restaurant people liked to come to, a place where they could relax.” His desire was, “I wanted to create a family place.” Arthur also said, “Talent is like energy. If you can’t harness it, you can’t make it work for you.” 

The Daily Item, June 9, 1983, noted that while Arthur and Rosemarie were still actively involved in the restaurant, a few of their family members worked there as well, assisting them. Son-in-law Michael Harrington was in charge of office management and purchasing, while Paul Castraberti, their son, was in charge of youth functions. Their other son, Steven Castraberti, was in charge of the Kitchen and Princess Room. 

The Daily Item, June 14, 1984, ran an ad titled, "We Make a Big Deal Out Of Lunch!" For $1.99, you could get a mini pizza or pasta, with a "frosty mug of beer, glass of wine or soft drink."  

The Daily Item, April 1, 1987, published this photo of Arthur and Wife, as “The Prince Restaurant on Route 1 has been named the No. 1 pizza operation in the nation by the National Association of Pizza Operators.” It was also noted, “Independent pizza operations were judged on three criteria: gross sales, dedication to the product, and overall desirability (working for both community and customers). Prince scored No.1 in all areas.” In addition, Prince had celebrated its 25th anniversary in the past year. Plus, “It was also named the No. 1 family fare restaurant on the North Shore by Boston Magazine.”

Giggles Comedy! The Daily Item, June 21, 1989, reported that the Giggles Comedy Club would premiere at Prince Restaurant on July 16. The premiere would host comedians including Lenny Clarke, Kevin Knox, Johnny Pizzi, and Don Gavin. For this opening event, the show would be held in one of Prince’s main dining area. After that, the shows would be held in Giggles, a 200 capacity function room located next to the restaurant. 

The Boston Globe, November 25, 1990, discussed the Leaning Tower at Prince with Arthur. “At one point, Castraberti said he considered removing the giant pizza tower atop his restaurant.” Arthur added, “There are times when I thought it was tacky and wished it wasn’t there but now that I’m older and more mellow, it is more a source of pleasure than it was, said Castraberti.” Today, it remains a famed and prominent landmark on Route 1, providing a sense of history and tradition. 

The Daily Item, April 9, 1991, printed a photo of Steve Castraberti, the manager at Prince. This accompanied an article concerning a letter in the New England Journal of Medicine which claimed that left-handers died nine years before right-handers. Steve, who is left-handed, though stated, "I take no stock in it," and "Wait a few year-end they'll come out with another report saying we live longer lives."

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The Daily Item, September 29, 1993, presented an ad for newly opened Castraberti's Tower Grill. It would feature "barbecued lamb, steak, pork, chicken, sausage, swordfish, shrimp, and combos." This was an attempt to create a fine dining option at Prince. 

The Daily Item, November 3, 1993, briefly noted, “Arthur Castraberti’s Tower Grill has opened for business on the premises of the Prince Restaurant, Route 1, Saugus. The grill features Italian barbecue, steak, lamb, fish, salads, grilled potatoes and home-made focaccia. Charlie Wolf is chef.” 

The Daily Item, February 8, 1994, published an ad offering a Valentine's Day special at the Tower Grill. For $35 per couple, dinner included an appetizer, soup, salad, entree and dessert, with complimentary Champagne and a flower for the woman. You could experience "cozy fireside dining" at the the Tower Grill. 

The Daily Item, May 12, 1994, presented an ad mentioning some of their dishes and their prices. You could order Grilled Chicken Breast ($8.95), Steak Tips ($9.95), Lamb Tips ($10.95), Cajun Chicken Pasta ($9.95), and Grilled Chicken & Broccoli ($9.95). The ad also had a coupon for $5.00 off Dinner for Two (although it wasn't valid for pizza).

A review of the new Tower Grill. The Boston Globe, September 11, 1994, provided that review, noting the chef, Jerry Rath, was 25 years old, from Ireland, and was trained in gourmet French cuisine. This was a different chef from the prior year. It was mentioned, “The grill is a throwback to old Italy,…” All of the grilled or sautéed entrees came with a house or Caesar salad. Some of the grill items included sweet Italian sausage ($7.95), lamb tips ($10.95), pasta and saute ($9.95), seafood linguine fra diavolo ($12.95), salmon steak ($11.95), and more. Desserts included frozen Khalua mousse and Tiramisu. 

 However, it appears the Tower Grill was closed sometime in early 1995, as references to it vanished.

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A Pizza Buffet! The Daily Item, January 19, 1995, posted the above advertisement, which offered an All You Can Eat Pizza Buffet, on Monday and Tuesday nights, from 5-8pm, which included assorted pizzas, salad bar and an ice cream dessert for $5.95 (for Adults) and $2.98 (for Kids). The ad also mentioned their Super Bowl Party, where for $10 per person, you could All You Can Eat Appetizers and Pizzas, with a Cash Bar.

More All You Can Eat! The restaurant added Sunday nights to their All You Can Eat Pizza Buffet, which had previously just been available on Monday and Tuesday nights. The price for children was a bit higher, at $3.95. They also added a Pasta Night on Wednesdays, from 5-8pm, with All You Can Eat Pasta, Meatballs, Salad Bar, Garlic Bread, Ice Cream and Soda.

Even more All You Can Eat, at Lunch! The Boston Globe, June 25, 1995, had this ad, mentioning now offered a Lunch Buffet, on weekdays until 1:30, for only $3.99. The restaurant also offered Take n' Bake Pizzas, 3 large for $12. The ad even came with a $5.00 discount coupon for any purchase of $20 or more. 

The Daily Item, October 5, 1995, had another ad for Prince Restaurant. Monday to Thursday nights, they had their "On The House" nights, providing Free Soup, Free Breadsticks, and Free Dessert to all Eat-In Patrons from 5-8pm. They were also still offering their All You Can Eat Pizza Feast, for $5.95, on Sunday nights. 

Another review of Prince! The Boston Globe, November 5, 1995, provided a review of the Prince Restaurant, stating it “.., remains a vital fixture on the local restaurant scene. In part, that may because it has learned to adapt to the times.” The restaurant has 600 seats, with a main dining room and two function halls. They previously experimented with live rock music in the 1970s, dinner theater in the early 1980s, and more recently, comedy, lighter music and karaoke. The restaurant is primarily operated by Arthur’s sons, Paul and Steven, and their brother in law, Michael J. Harrington. 

The article also mentioned, “Pizza is Prince’s specialty—the restaurant serves about 5,000 pies a week.” It continued, "Pizza aficionados, except for the most ardent thick crust lovers, are not likely to leave unhappy." It was also noted that it's "a family-style restaurant with an informal atmosphere and good, honest Italian fare.”

The Daily Item, July 26, 1996, briefly noted that Arthur, who is semi-retired from Prince Restaurant, stated, “We never assume that we can’t do it better.” 

A Special Award! The Daily Item, December 19, 1997, reported that the Saugus Chamber of Commerce was going to award Arthur Castreberti their First Business Service Award. The article stated, "Castreberti was a founding father of the Chamber, once known as the Route One Businessmen's Association, dedicated himself to the betterment of the turnpike and the entire Saugus business community." 

Another Super Bowl party. The Daily Item, January 22, 1998, had an ad for Prince, noting their Super Bowl Party. There would be Free Appetizers from 5-6pm and Free Cheese Pizzas at Half-Time. There would also be Raffle prizes.

The Boston Globe, June 14, 1998, mentioned that 10 years after Arthur assumed ownership of Prince Restaurant, the restaurant could seat 700 customers and they were selling 10,000 pizzas a week. It was also mentioned that back in 1981, "a southbound station wagon plowed through the front of the Prince, injuring eight but leaving the tower more or less upright.”

A new Tower! The Daily Item, October 20, 1999, reported that the original Leaning Tower was being replaced with a new tower. "Stephen Castraberti says it will look more the original Tower of Pisa, with more eye-catching detail and more authenticity, but it will also have a large 'Pizza' sign on top, in lighted, four-foot letters, to get those motorists' mouth watering."

The Daily Item, October 26, 1999, provided more details on the new Tower. "The top 32 feet of the tower, from the room up, is new. The bottom 15 feet of the tower, located inside the building, is the original." Arthur stated that he "was glad he never took the tower down." To him, "It's a beautiful symbol of what we are."

The Arthur Castraberti Award! The Daily Item, January 27, 2000, reported that the Saugus Chamber of Commerce had created the Arthur Castraberti Businessperson of the Year Award. It is "presented for outstanding service to the chamber and the community as a whole." It was named for Arthur, who "epitomizes everything a businessperson could be." The article continued to discuss Arthur, "He's gregarious, honest, warm and very generous. He's given to the community for years and now through his sons he continues to give. His conduct and behavior are the kind you'd like to see a businessperson have." This year, the award was given to Leonard DeRosa, the General Manager of the Hilltop Steak House. 

Another unfortunate item. The Boston Herald, October 28, 2000, published the obituary of Rose Marie I. (Bucci) Castraberti, Arthur's beloved wife and co-founder of Prince Restaurant. It was fascinating to note that Rose once worked for the CIA in Washington!  

The Boston Globe, August 28, 2003, mentioned that Prince Restaurant, which can seat 650 people employs about 70 workers. “Although the size and scope of the business has changed dramatically over the years, the philosophy and core values of Prince have not changed at all. Good food, a fun atmosphere, moderate prices, and excellent service are still the foundation of Prince.” 

The Boston Globe, October 5, 2003, then provided a review of Prince, beginning with, "Mayhem. Complete and utter mayhem. There's no other way to describe the full-force sensory assault that is Prince Pizzeria." Steve Castraberti commented, "We're loud, we're a cacophony of noise and families, and you never have to worry about your child being the loudest because there are 10,000 other kids around." The review continued, "And, believe it or not, the restaurant makes pretty good food--good, inexpensive, homemade, red sauce Italian." It was also noted that on a busy Saturday night, the restaurant could sell over 1,000 pizzas. 

According to Steve, their marinara sauce is a relatively simple red sauce, and should primarily taste like tomatoes and basil. One of the keys to preparing the sauce is not to overseason it. Nowadays, they prepare it in a big kettle, which helps to ensure it doesn't burn. 

Pizza accounts for about 65% of their sales, and pepperoni is the most popular topping. "It's great pepperoni, too--slightly peppery and generously applied." Each week, the restaurant bakes about 5000 regular crusts and 120 whole wheat ones. The review added, "Prince also makes extremely good pasta, .." It was also mentioned that their two desserts include soft-serve ice cream and a Carvel ice cream cake. 

The Daily Item, July 21, 2005, noted that Steve Castraberti had taken over the ownership of the Prince Restaurant. Steve stated that nothing would change except the ownership.  

The Daily Item, October 14, 2010, detailed that Prince was celebrating their 50th Anniversary, and they would be holding two events that would benefit local public schools. One would be a Comedy Night event while the other would be a children's party. Steven Castraberti stated, "My father supported the local schools, sports teams, hospitals, seniors, and many other worthy causes since I can remember."

The Daily Item, October 21, 2010, followed up with more information about Price Restaurant and its 50th anniversary. Steve and his siblings grew up working at the restaurant. Steve started, at age 15, working as a dish washer and bus buy. Eventually, in 2005, Steve bought out the rest of the family to take sole ownership of the restaurant. "With much more competition today than decades ago, Steve Castraberti said he's kept the restaurant thriving by keeping prices low and food quality high." Steve also said, "We really are red-sauce Italian." In addition, he said, "... in addition to the food, the family atmosphere is what keeps Prince Pizza thriving."

More sadness. The Daily Item, June 29, 2011, provided an obituary for Arthur Castraberti, who had been 86 years old. Fifty years had passed since Arthur became the owner of the Prince Restaurant. During those 50 years, he transformed a tiny drive-in restaurant into one of the largest independent pizzerias in the country. He started off with no restaurant experience, but his passion and intelligence allowed him to transform the restaurant into a great success. He also greatly supported the community, through his philanthropy and connections to the other local businesses, such as through the Route 1 Businessmen's Association/Saugus Chamber of Commerce.   

And now the second generation, Arthur's son Steve, has the reigns of Prince Restaurant, and in the last 20+ years since he has taken full control, he has continued to run a very successful restaurant. It has remained true to Arthur's values, presenting an informal atmosphere, a family friendly place, with good food and moderate prices. It's a restaurant which has been consistent over the years, and has weathered external problems, from COVID to high food prices. I often see Steve working at the restaurant, ensuring everything runs well, greeting customers, and more. 

Congratulations to Prince Pizzeria and I hope it will celebrate many more anniversaries!