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James Joyce pub to become Neapolitan pizza franchise

Posted by Derek Flack / February 6, 2012

39 Comments

201226-famoso-james-joyce.jpgThe Annex is about to get in on the Neapolitan pizza craze. But it won't be courtesy of the folks behind Pizza e Pazzi, Queen Margherita Pizza or Pizzeria Libretto. Vacant since a bailiff's notice was posted on its front door last June, the space that used to house the anything-but-Irish James Joyce pub will soon be home to a Famoso Pizzeria, a franchise that established roots in Alberta back in 2006 but is now making a push east. Along with the Annex location, the company's website also promises a restaurant at Yorkdale Mall in Spring 2012.

201226-famoso-pizz.jpgThat should offer at least some indication as to what type of restaurant Famoso is for those who haven't heard of it. As one Edmonton Sun columnist put it, these franchises are kind of like an upscale, Neapolitan-style version of Boston Pizza, complete with corporate branding and sights on national domination. In other words, a perfect fit at Yorkdale — but what about the Annex? Not to be an asshole, but there are obviously just a few more options for Neapolitan pizza in downtown Toronto than there are in Jasper.

No doubt some will bemoan the further corporatization of the neighbourhood — though, in truth, that happened long ago and has ebbed and flowed for the last half decade or so — but one wonders if that attitude will carry much weight should the pizza prove as authentic as the company claims it is. Will the cookie-cutter interior and family-friendly atmosphere lead the Annex crowd to venture outward for its pizza fix (sorry, Hey Lucy)? Or is Famoso's just what the neighbourhood's been waiting for?

Thanks to reader Daniel Alter for the tip

Discussion

39 Comments

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NC / February 6, 2012 at 04:15 pm
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It's replacing the Joyce ... so, you know ... the Annex has been becoming this monster for a long time now.
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the lemur / February 6, 2012 at 04:20 pm
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It could be a pretty decent addition to the neighbourhood - there aren't that many pizza options around that are licensed, and it certainly doesn't need another sushi or wings joint.
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M / February 6, 2012 at 04:23 pm
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UGH seriously?!?!? Like the Annex needs more shitty restaurants. There's such a lack of actually decent places to eat there. I get that its student-ville, but how much cheap pan-asian, shwarma, and pizza can people eat? I wish someone would open an actually decent restaurant. Right now there is that italian place Serra, and I guess I will include By the Way Cafe, but that's about it in terms of a decent sit down meal. I think something more interesting (like Barque! or imagine if Utopia opened a second location! or even like a Bar Volo!) would do extremely well in the Annex, given the lack of options. Not everyone that lives there is a poor student, and even the poor students like to class it up once in a while.

While I'm ranting, someone open a wine bar in the Annex!
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Welcome / February 6, 2012 at 04:24 pm
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The Joyce was a disgusting bar full of disgusting people doing disgusting things. So glad to see it gone forever & I can't wait to try the new 'za!
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Jose / February 6, 2012 at 04:38 pm
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The JJ was a dump. They may have poured a decent pint but it was effing grubby and the food was crap
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Tuffy / February 6, 2012 at 05:12 pm
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Want good food in the annex try...

http://insomniacafe.com/
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McRib / February 6, 2012 at 05:17 pm
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i once ordered the curry at the James Joyce.

once.
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Danielle / February 6, 2012 at 06:19 pm
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The JJ had cops there almost every weekend, I used to live down the street and I don't miss that bar one bit. Brunny too, it's like people aged from the Brunny to the JJ.
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Derek / February 6, 2012 at 06:22 pm
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One thing that I failed to mention above: based on the current state of restaurant, spring 2012 might be generous. I'd think late spring at the earliest.
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handfed / February 6, 2012 at 06:27 pm
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thank gawd it's not going to be another sushi place
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Mogat / February 6, 2012 at 06:30 pm
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The JJ was a quality Sh**hole going back ten years or so. Used to get served there with a dodgy fake ID when I was 17 and always had a good time. Not sure if it got even worse or just refused to change with the ever more fussy sensiblities of the downtown scene, but I for one will be sad to see it go, especially if it's just for another pizza joint. Not a great loss though by any means. I guess I'm part of a dying breed that thinks there's still a place for dive bars in this town.
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Aaron / February 6, 2012 at 08:45 pm
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Yay! More mall food!
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and another thing / February 6, 2012 at 09:24 pm
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Those 3 Brewers morons should have opened their joint in the annex instead of beside the Eaton Centre.
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Donny B. replying to a comment from Tuffy / February 7, 2012 at 01:30 am
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Insomonia is RACIST!! I went there once with a friend and the staff ignored us. It didn't take long to figure out 'why' since we were the only non-white customers there at the time. We walked out and never went back.
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Monica I / February 7, 2012 at 02:22 am
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Oh guys! Hold on! This isn't some nasty big ugly chain! Have you checked out their website? There are locations in Calgary & Edmonton, its a great neighbourhood place. Quality ingredients-imported 00 (double zero - low gluten) flour & tomatoes from Italy!

Honestly, some of the best pizza I've eaten. Yes, I'm celiac. I am very aware that I shouldn't be eating it, but sometimes, when the options are good, but not fabulous-you cave. My favourite is the simplest, margherita, but the Spicy Thai is my SO's favourite. Gelato they serve is sourced locally - either in town or from Calgary, and it's good.

Cliché, but "Try it, you'll like it!"
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Mike / February 7, 2012 at 02:26 am
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I miss the Joyce only by virtue of the fact that I used to go there when I was 16. I don't think anybody employed at that place had any concept of "legal drinking age."
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Mike / February 7, 2012 at 02:33 am
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Derek, when you preface something with "not to be an asshole", you're about to be an asshole and you were with what was basically a NIMBY rant over the ludicrous suggestion that the Annex needn't be tainted with (gasp!) a chain restaurant. Why not give the place a shot before you crap all over it? God forbid it actually might be good.
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Rodimus Prime replying to a comment from Donny B. / February 7, 2012 at 04:50 am
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Bullshit, it is not racist. I used to go there years ago (I'm an Afro-Canadian male) and I never had any problems. Maybe you and your friend were acting badly.
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Donny B. replying to a comment from Rodimus Prime / February 7, 2012 at 06:07 am
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Far from it. We just sat at out tables waiting for a server to approach.. The place was not even that busy. About 10 min go by and we wave to a server to take our order.. We keep waiting.. Another 2 min and STILL no service. We realized they were all ignoring us and pretending we were not there.. I wanted to get the manager but my friend said "forget it let's ditch this joint.." We calmly got up and left.

No Lie and how racist of you to insinuate we were 'acting badly'.
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GEtbent replying to a comment from Donny B. / February 7, 2012 at 08:07 am
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So because some waiters at some restaurant didn't serve you, that must mean they are racist?
You know how insane that sounds, right?

It was shity service. Nothing else. Don't kid yourself, champ.
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McRib / February 7, 2012 at 08:19 am
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RACIST
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Brendan / February 7, 2012 at 10:02 am
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Joyce once said that the three problems with Ireland were: British rule, the Roman Catholic Church and alcoholism. I always thought it was ironic that someone named a bar after him.
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chris / February 7, 2012 at 10:42 am
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Keep in mind that the faux retro diner facade on the the JJ is left over from when that space used to be a Toby's. The Annex is no stranger to chain restaurants. And the complaint about there being no quality restaurants in the neighbourhood can easily be addressed by walking one block south to Harbord.
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Donny B. replying to a comment from GEtbent / February 7, 2012 at 10:44 am
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Spoken like a true racist wanting to put an upset non-white in place. Newsflash homeboy. It is valid to say racism when it's obvious the server does not want to serve 'certain' people.
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home replying to a comment from Donny B. / February 7, 2012 at 10:59 am
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So if something doesn't go your way, then it must automatically be racism?

That person butt in from of me in line...oh...that's racism.
That person didn't hold a door for me...oh...that's racism.
That terrible waiter didn't serve me...oh...that's racism.

And on and on and on. Just because someone does something to offend you, doesnt make it racism.
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Donny B. / February 7, 2012 at 12:01 pm
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You're over thinking what I'm saying...

Or just being plain stupid. Take your pick.
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home / February 7, 2012 at 12:05 pm
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And you're a chronic user of the term racist.
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Rob Ford / February 7, 2012 at 12:21 pm
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I did what the taxpayers want. They want pizza. That’s it. They don’t want an Irish pub. I was out in The Annex over the weekend. People came up to me and said they want pizza. That’s it. It’s the taxpayers. The taxpayers want, I was elected on pizza. They want pizza. I was out on Saturday, people want pizza. That’s it. It’s all pizza. It’s all about pizza. All about pizza. So, it’s the taxpayers that elected me to get the pizza in and that’s what we’re going to do. It’s like winning an election. So if they voted me in, that means I don’t win an election? It doesn’t make sense.
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Rodimus Prime replying to a comment from Rob Ford / February 7, 2012 at 12:41 pm
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Would you PLEASE stop this fracking bullshit? Nobody cares or gives a shit, and its not funny.
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the lemur replying to a comment from Brendan / February 7, 2012 at 12:43 pm
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Well, he was largely right about those being problems - they still are to some extent.

Notice, though, that he said alcoholism and not alcohol. He did like his white wine.
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jameson / February 7, 2012 at 12:52 pm
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Famoso pizza isn't bad at all, it's not very expensive either. If I worked/lived around there I would try it out. The Edmonton one's are all a little different.
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Mary's Fragedakis replying to a comment from Rodimus Prime / February 7, 2012 at 01:06 pm
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I think it's friggin' hillarious.
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Rob Ford replying to a comment from Rodimus Prime / February 7, 2012 at 01:06 pm
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I did what the taxpayers want. They want bullshit. That’s it. They don’t want Rodimus Prime. I was out in The Annex over the weekend. People came up to me and said they want bullshit. That’s it. It’s the taxpayers. The taxpayers want, I was elected on bullshit. They want bullshit. I was out on Saturday, people want bullshit. That’s it. It’s all bullshit. It’s all about bullshit. All about bullshit. So, it’s the taxpayers that elected me to get the bullshit in and that’s what we’re going to do. It’s like winning an election. So if they voted me in, that means I don’t win an election? It doesn’t make sense.
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Dino / February 7, 2012 at 01:41 pm
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I've tried Famoso. Excellent product! A small number of locations, but each one with a different feel and style! Consistently satisfying menu, without a cookie cutter interior. Can't wait for this addition to the Annex.
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Pand Raul / February 7, 2012 at 02:34 pm
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Mmm more more pizza, in mah belly, in mah belly YAY!
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Donny B. replying to a comment from home / February 8, 2012 at 04:47 am
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And because YOU say so you think that makes it so right?

Wrong.

You're simply an idiot.
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home replying to a comment from Donny B. / February 8, 2012 at 08:10 am
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Yes, everything doesn't go your way, let's shout racism. Seems logical.
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Jfrad / February 19, 2012 at 11:09 am
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I lived in Edmonton the last two years and went to the downtown Famoso location many times. Don't let someone's BP comparison throw you just because it is a pizza joint from Edmonton trying to go national. It is an excellent destination, still pretty new and already beloved out there. I've been to Libretto and I think this compares very favourably. If they keep the same ingredients, ovens etc (all imported from Italy) and train their new staff well then I think this will be a home run.
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Elise replying to a comment from Rob Ford / February 22, 2012 at 05:25 pm
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hilarious!
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