Little Anthony's Pizza seized for tax violations

VERNON — A well-known pizzeria and restaurant in the A&P Plaza was shuttered by the New Jersey Division of Taxation for $85,000 of sales-tax violations.

According to Chris Santarelli, a spokesman for the state treasurer’s office, two judgments were filed against Little Anthony’s on May 2 by the Division of Taxation, both for the failure to pay and file sales tax. The first judgment was for $65,000 and the second was for $20,000.

The business was officially seized July 25 and workers for the Division of Taxation were removing property from the premesis as recently as Friday. Little Anthony’s was owned by Arnold Cwirko, Tracey Cwirko and Anthony Cwirko.

Santarelli said the state’s intervention at Little Anthony’s has been standard procedure.

“Everything has been itemized,” he said. “There has not been an auction date set at this point.”

On its Facebook page, Little Anthony’s notified customers of its closing with a quote from “Empty Chairs and Empty Tables,” from the musical, Les Miserables: “There's a grief that can't be spoken; There's a pain goes on and on; Empty chairs at empty tables; Now my friends are dead and gone.”

The owners finished the message with a simple, “goodbye.”

The telephone listed for the Cwirko family was disconnected Friday. No other messages were returned.

The store’s customers were surprised to find the pizzeria had been closed. The Vernon Police Athletic League had planned to order pizzas from Little Anthony’s on Friday but had to find an alternative once discovering the business was closed. On Friday afternoon, a family walked up to Little Anthony's to go inside. But when they saw the business was closed, they returned to their car and went elsewhere.

Additionally, Cherwyn Ambuter of Vernon wrote a letter supportive of the pizzeria that was published July 4 in the Advertiser-News North.

"Little Anthony's genuinely cares about people, from all angles: specialized food to meet your needs, and donations for sick children and helping nonprofit organizations. They are a kind and caring neighbor to all who live here," Ambuter wrote in the letter.

Little Anthony’s opened in 1996, serving Italian food and pizza. The restaurant was open seven days per week and delivered throughout Vernon. At one point, it was voted best pizzeria in Sussex County for three straight years.