Feud over parking fuels fight between North Castle pizza store owner and fire department

Michael Fiorentino, the owner of Broadway Pizza, says orange cones were put in front of the restaurant five months ago after an incident with the fire department.

News 12 Staff

Feb 9, 2023, 10:34 PM

Updated 533 days ago

Share:

The owner of a 50-year-old family run business in North Castle is locked in a battle with the North White Plains Fire Department over parking in front of his store.
Michael Fiorentino, the owner of Broadway Pizza, says orange cones were put in front of the restaurant five months ago after an incident with the fire department.
"They told us the last straw was one of our pizza delivery guys cut one of their fire engines off as they were backing in," says Fiorentino. "We don't condone that, but we weren't aware of the situation."
Fiorentino says the business has managed with the issues of the pandemic and the rise in food costs, but not having parking is a big problem.
Customers who used to park in the fire lane for a few minutes to run and grab a slice or a pie now have to park blocks away and, in some cases, cross a busy street.
"If people see these cones out here, they just keep driving," says Fiorentino.
The North Castle Police Department tells News 12 parking in the fire lane, which is on a state road, breaks state regulation. Officials say it makes it hard for fire trucks to maneuver in and out of the fire house in an emergency.
Fiorentino is a firefighter himself and understands the concern but is hoping for a compromise.
"Obviously safety is a big issue," says Fiorentino. "We agree with that, but this could have been handled with a conversation. It didn't have to go as far as it went."
The North Castle Police Department says they are willing to come to the table to find a solution, however, there are limitations as to what they can do because parking is limited.


More from News 12
1:52
Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

1:58
Warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine in the Hudson Valley

Warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine in the Hudson Valley

0:38
Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

0:49
New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

0:49
Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

0:32
Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

0:17
Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

1:40
Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

0:52
Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

0:37
2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

1:30
Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

0:56
News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

1:02
Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

1:37
Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

2:33
Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

0:32
NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

0:40
State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

0:34
Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

0:40
Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

0:34
Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued

Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued