Spent $2 on a slice at Sal's on 5th and got a free history lesson from the owner

Tyler Thompson · 2026-09-29T00:30:03.504362+00:00

I ducked into this tiny pizza place on 5th Street last Tuesday because it was raining and I just needed somewhere dry to eat. Sal, the owner, has been there since 1979 and the place still has the same red booths and a jukebox that only plays 45s. While I was eating, he started telling me how the block used to have a bowling alley, a shoe repair shop, and a diner that stayed open till 3am for the factory guys. I went back three times that month just to hear more stories and he showed me a photo album he keeps behind the counter. Turns out half the buildings on that block are empty now because a big developer bought them up in 2015 and just sits on them. Sal said he refuses to sell because his regulars would have nowhere to go. I never expected a cheap slice to turn into a whole lesson about what this neighborhood used to be. Back in the day you could walk down 5th and know every shop owner by name, now I barely know my own neighbors. Anyone else have a spot like this where the owner is basically a walking history book?

🐿️Pinecone Attack

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Spent $2 on a slice at Sal's on 5th and got a free history lesson from the owner | Cool Local Spots - Pinecone Attack