Sam Abdelfatah

Sometimes a pizza is just a pizza, but for Sam Abdelfatah, owner of Brooklyn Pizza in downtown Birmingham, it has been his life’s passion and legacy.

He first arrived in America from Egypt at the age of 19 to study engineering – taking a job making pizza in New York City to pay his rent. The Bloomfield Hills resident says it was “love at first pizza,” and he soon changed his focus from engineering to owning his own pizza restaurant.

“One of my buddies, Michael Shinder, worked at the pizzeria with me and he suggested the quaint location in Birmingham, to start our own place. Never having been there, we took a risk and opened it in 1996, and it was the best business decision of my life, ” Abdelfatah reminisced.

Determined to recreate an authentic Brooklyn style pizzeria in his prime corner on Maple Road, ultimate attention to detail was given to the new business, including the Brooklyn hand tossed, thin crust, oven-fired pizza recipes, artwork gracing the walls depicting Brooklyn’s Coney Island, Old Long Island, and a 10-foot Statue of Liberty welcoming patrons near the entrance.

“I’d have to say what I really love about my business is making people happy. Food is love and I get to share my love with families by serving them the best pizza in a casual, kid friendly place. That’s hard to find in downtown Birmingham,” said the family man and restaurateur.

Known to many as ‘Mr. Birmingham,' Abdelfatah gained the reputation as a fixture in the community for nearly three decades by connecting and giving back whenever he could and through fund-raisers and donations to non-profits like Wish Upon a Teen and the Birmingham Education Foundation.

“Kids have always been my biggest clients,” said the father of two. “After almost 30 years, some of kids that come in to eat are now coming in pushing strollers with kids of their own. I’ve watched them grow up with birthday parties, anniversaries and graduations and I feel honored to be a part of their lives.”

Aside from the love he has for his community, Abdelfatah attributes his success to his talent for great marketing and embracing change, including new technology. “I was the only pizza restaurant in town to do a trial with an autonomous electric delivery robot from a company in Troy, built by Canadian auto supplier Magna International Inc. Maybe it goes back to my engineering history but I was very interested to try it. We had hundreds of pizzas delivered this way, and it was a great experience even though the trial has ended.”

Wanting to grow in both space and provisions, Abdelfatah recently expanded the restaurant and added a liquor license for the first time in its history. The space also now has a pedestrian entrance and a walk-up window, perfect for serving guests who plan to have a casual dinner or drink on the patio.

More changes are in the works – the current plan to step down and sell his beloved Brooklyn Pizza hasn’t come easy for the devoted owner.

“I felt the time was right to turn it over to a father-and-son team that will bring all of the youthful energy and commitment to the community that I have had for so many years here,” said Abdelfatah.

While nothing is yet written in stone, his next chapter will be filled with travel and spending more time with his own family. And one thing never gets old for Abdelfatah, he said.

“Every time I drive by Brooklyn Pizza I can feel the love I’ve put into it, and I’m very proud of the legacy I am leaving.”

Story: Susan Peck

Photo: Laurie Tennent