Her Wednesday pizza routine has been going strong for about a year and a half.

“They know my name here,” Singer said. “I’m here every Wednesday. I’m inside at four o’clock.

Singer sat patiently by the counter enjoying the family atmosphere that Dino Pace began in 1953.

At 4:10 p.m. patrons began filling the establishment, located at 549 W. Third St., and server Jaclyn Bush was ready to take their orders.

Jaclyn Bush, a server at Pace’s Pizzeria stands near a photo of Dino Pace. She said the atmosphere in the restaurant is amazing. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

Jaclyn also loves the family atmosphere, and loves working at Pace’s.

“The atmosphere is amazing,” Jaclyn said.

And on Friday, the atmosphere will become even more amazing as Dino Pace will celebrate his 99th birthday at the restaurant he made part of the Jamestown community. The celebration is from 6 to 9 p.m., and the family has invited about 75 guests, said Michele Williams, Dino’s daughter.

“He was a staple in this community for many many years,” Williams said of her dad.

Full disclosure, in the late 70s, when I attended Lincoln Junior High School, now Lincoln Elementary School, Pace’s was the place to go after Friday night dances. It was the great atmosphere that made the restaurant so memorable.

Pace’s Pizzeria is pictured on 549 W. Third St. It has been at the same location since 1963. P-J photos by Michael Zabrodsky

“I guess my fondest memory was the Lincoln dances, and being at the restaurant,” Michele said.

Jaclyn recalled that when she met Dino, she had only been working at the restaurant for about six months.

“When I first met Dino, I had been working here for six months to a year, and Dino walked past everyone else in the room, and he came up to me and hugged me like he knew me, and that was the sweetest thing,” Jaclyn said.

According to paces.pizza, Pace’s Pizzeria was founded in 1953 by Dino Pace. Originally in Lakewood, Dino opened two more locations in Jamestown. In 1963, Dino decided to put all of his love and time into the 549 W. Third St. location. Living a very adventurous life, Dino brought back pizza and sauce recipes from his hometown of Sulmona, Italy, in the Abruzzo province. Dino employed many people in the community over the years making life-long friends. One in particular was Joe Town, who worked with Dino for 10 years. Town said he shares the same passion for life and adventure including traveling to Italy to find the best ingredients and wines. Town became a sommelier in 2014 and worked in the restaurant business for 15 years. In 2018, Town purchased Pace’s with his wife, Alyvia, and continues the wonderful pizza, wine and salads.

“Joe and Alyvia are great to work for,” Jaclyn said.