Nonna Ilva pizza
It’s pizza time!
H*MAC announced that patrons will be able to grab a slice or a whole pie from the restaurant soon opening inside its Midtown music venue.
Nonna Ilva Authentic Italian is slated to open in H*MAC at the end of September, replacing Zachary’s BBQ, which operated there since 2021.
Nonna Ilva currently runs a location in Carlisle and was a vendor in the Broad Street Market for a year, before a devastating fire in July closed the building temporarily.
According to Mattia Cappella, who owns the business with his wife Hannah Houtz, he decided not to reopen as a vendor in the market’s temporary market structure, but rather move operations to H*MAC, after venue officials reached out to them about the opportunity.
“When the fire happened, I thought maybe the vendors needed some help,” said John Traynor, founder and spokesperson for H*MAC. “I thought pizza would be a good fit for H*MAC. It’s a win-win for everybody.”
H*MAC struggled to operate Zachary’s after the restaurant’s owner, Keith Taylor, was severely injured due to a car accident, Traynor said. With Nonna Ilva on board, Traynor views this as a new chapter for the venue’s restaurant.
Nonna Ilva will offer authentic Italian pizza, appetizers and desserts. The pizza will be thin crust, made with ingredients imported from Italy. One of the restaurant’s most popular pizzas is the salsiccia, topped with homemade sausage, sweet peppers, saffron sauce and stracciatella cheese, Capella said.
Nonna Ilva cannoli
They also plan to offer desserts, such as cannoli and tiramisu, along with vegan and gluten-free menu options.
“You will be able to drink a beer and eat pizza,” Cappella said. “I think H*MAC is a good location for us.”
Capella is from Italy, near Rome, where he also attended culinary school. He opened his Carlisle Nonna Ilva location in May.
When asked why he was interested in bringing the Italian restaurant in-house, Traynor said, “Honestly, it’s because I love pizza. He makes a really great pizza and makes everything by hand.”
According to Traynor, the restaurant will provide food for H*MAC’s large events and concerts, as well as its patrons during regular lunch and dinner hours.
Nonna Ilva is slated to hold a soft opening on Sept. 28 and open fully in early October.
Nonna Ilva’s Harrisburg restaurant will be located inside H*MAC, 1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit H*MAC’s website or Nonna Ilva’s website.
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