WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — There's some good news for church-goers and pizza fans alike in Wilkes Barre.
Gerry's Pizzeria and Living Hope Bible Church on Carey Avenue have teamed up to tear down an old building and create some much-needed parking.
It's an answered prayer for a local pastor and pizza shop owner.
This space neighboring the pair will soon be converted into a much-needed parking lot for Gerry's Pizzeria and living hope bible church.
"It has been a long way. God tested our faith, about a year and a half that we were working with Gerry and Living Hope to get this property and we finally got it," stated Pastor Mark Desilva.
When completed, the lot will hold around 47 spots in total. It's a big upgrade. Parking now in the lot is extremely limited.
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"I started here with five in 1981," said Gerald Ricci, owner of Gerry's pizzeria
Since then, the parking lot has expanded, however, space is still an issue for both the popular pizza shop and the parish.
"It's been difficult, probably lost some business on account of it," explained Ricci
"We knew when we came here parking could be an issue," said Pastor Desilva.
The two say the new parking plan is a match made in heaven and will be a positive for both places.
"We could use the parking all week and the church uses it on Sundays except for when they have special events going on at night we could even be opened and they could be parking here and my customers could be parking here and it's a win-win situation," stated Ricci.
The building has a basement that still needs to be filled in and settled. The project will be fully completed in a year and a half to two years.
