A crowd gathered outside Lorenzo and Sons Pizza early this afternoonto mourn a South Street landmark consumed by a blaze that burned forover an hour before firefighters could stamp it out."The building was difficult to ventilate," Deputy Chief Joseph McGrawsaid. "There's no access from the rear and no vents in the front. We hadto cut a hole in the roof to get the fire under control."He said 65 firefighters and emergency medical services personnelresponded to the call shortly before 10:30 a.m. The three-story building, which also houses several apartments, was extinguished at 11:45 a.m. One firefighter suffered a non-life-threateninginjury to his left knee and was treated at Hahnemann UniversityHospital.Owner Giuseppe Pulizzi was at the bank making a deposit when he heardthe news. "I just got a phone call," he said as he watched firefightersfile out of the still-smoking shell this morning. The shop's blackened interior could be seen from the street through several large openings cut in the facade, beheading a mural of namesake Lorenzo Pulizzi."A worker called mesaying there was smoke coming from the exhaust," Giuseppe Pulizzi said. "He tried putting it outwith a fire extinguisher, but black smoke kept coming out."Pulizzi said his first fear was for his dog, which was upstairs on the second floor. "I ran up, got the dog out, grabbed a t-shirt and putit over my face," he said. By then, the smoke had become overwhelming."A firefighter told me to evacuate the building and get everyone out."Lorenzo's has been a mainstay of the ever-changing corridor since 1988. The takeout joint is famous – orinfamous, depending on who you ask – for its gargantuan slices and rigid rules. Regulars can recall the paper signs reading "Toppings on slices – don't even think about it!" that graced the walls for years.Open until 3 a.m. on weekdays and 4 a.m. Fridays andSaturdays, Lorenzo's is also a popular after-hours spot, with lines known to wrap around the block after bars let out, flooding the streets with hungry hordes of grease-craving party people."I've been going there for 15 years," said Tina DeCarlo, who worksnearby. "I'm bummed. Where else am I gonna get pizza at 2 a.m.?""Anytime I hit up South Street at night, I stop in," MarkDiGiambattista said. "I guess I'm not getting pizza today," he addedmournfully.But late-night slice lovers can rest easy. Though Pulizzi was not yetallowed inside to assess the damage early this afternoon, he said Lorenzo'swill reopen regardless. "That's not an issue," he said. "We'll do it assoon as possible – we've got a lot of loyal customers."Polarizing pizza: Philadelphians react to fire at Lorenzo and SonsNews spread through the Twitterverse like wildfire (pun totally intended), ranging from genuine shock and sadness to genuine joy and celebration, interspersed with a heaping portion of bickering and plenty of bad jokes about drunk college nights and rude cashiers, served up Philly-style.Storified by Alex Wigglesworth · Wed, Jun 27 2012 16:38:45@neezyFbabyyy Lorenzo's on fire is easily our country's greatest disaster ever. Makes Katrina look like a water gun fight.lil kirbs@CaseFacePrice told me 2 hours ago that Lorenzo's burnt down and I am still in shock. The drunk fat person inside me is very very sad.Erica Bates@UrbanFrenzy7 THAT'S MY MOST FAVORITE PLACE EVER ! I'M GONNA NAME MY SON LORENZO HAHALu ReyesRIP Lorenzo's. You were the best part of 3 am.The MenzingersSomebody tried to order a pepperoni slice at Lorenzo's and all hell broke loose. #TheFire #TheRoots http://bit.ly/LgRmVhJoseph CranneyLorenzo's catches fire today giving everyone the opportunity to prove that they hate Lorenzo's pizza more than the next guy. I'm impressed.haveboardGuys, Lorenzo's burnt down. I don't even have a joke for it. It just sucks. I love that place.Tim MontgomeryIt's sad cuz I love their pizza & so did my dog. She would ONLY beg for Lorenzo's! Will miss those huge $3 slices!!!k.a. barberThey have a security guard packing but not a smoke detector, damnit Lorenzo'sS.wow. Lorenzo's caught on fire this morning nooooo. the fire was as big as their slices #badjokejake rasmussenLorenzo's.. WHYYYY??!??!!!? #lorenzos #saddayBrooke SmithWho's starting the "Rebuild Lorenzo's Fund"..I'll donate. We need this place back by September.Sweet Ass BridgetAm I the only person that doesn't care about Lorenzo's burning down? I'm going to get a lot of shit for this but that pizza blows.deanna nicoleLorenzo's was a lot like prison in that it always felt like it was moments away from a race war and I think you had to get beat in for pies.Tim ButterlySo I just read that Lorenzo and Son's Pizza on South St had a really bad fire and is burned up pretty bad... DAMN... NOOOOO...DASH SrSo fucking sick about lorenzo's being caught on fire and now closed #heartbrokenRandy HughesThe 19 year-old piss-drunk at 2am version of me is completely demoralized that Lorenzo's burned down.Teddy UnleadedOh no #Lorenzo's pizza :(blair cetlinFor the first time ever, Lorenzo's pizza was not undercooked. #lorenzosBrendan KennedySome sweet pizza humor: Authorities say that the fire was so large, they had to fold it in half. #Lorenzo's - Chip Chantry #riplorenzosplastycatGlad Lorenzo's caught fire. Those guys are assholes.GourWait Lorenzo's is on fire !!! No!!!!!!Kenar WilliamsAnybody like Lorenzo's pizza on south street? It's burned down -__-T.ChinLorenzo's??? Say it isn't true!!will noonFOR GOD'S SAKE, SOMEBODY SAVE LORENZO'S!Sean Blandastay hot, Lorenzo's...you's are on fireAnthony DeMeoLorenzo's pizza caught on fire?! There's only like 20 other pizza places on South Street, what will we do!hannaHFinally my Lorenzo's pizza won't be all doughy. I hear they are finally cooking them all the way thru today #lorenzosAaron Witz99.9% of my visits to Lorenzo's were for lunch, where I'd stand in the back and awkwardly watch my reflection shove pizza into his face.Ed SkirkiePeople actually give a shit about Lorenzo's? I hope an actual pizza shop opens in its place. #wahhh #whitepeople #pizzaisASS #OPINIONSAaron Ditro#pause where am I gonna drunkenly go for bomb slices now?? Rip Lorenzo's=(Ann LamLorenzo's is burning! Burning! What a world, what a world! Who could destroy the beautiful wickedness!?Amanda ElsewhereWell Lorenzo's caught on fire, what's the point of living in Philly anymore?heatherRIP Lorenzo's
