At 24, Mason Lesser is following his grandfather’s legacy, preparing to open a new pizzeria in Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood.
“There’s a lot of emotions. It’s stressful, it’s scary but you have to put yourself in uncomfortable situations,” Lesser told What Now Philadelphia.
Marinas Pizza, at 1425 Frankfurt Ave., is named after his grandmother and mother, making the pizzeria a true family affair.
“We’re going to be using a 60-year starter from my grandfather. He’s from Italy. He moved from Italy to the United States when he was 15 years old and opened over 50 pizza shops all over the country, so I learned from him. I’ll be using his recipe,” Lesser said.
A pizza starter is a fermented mixture of flour and water, helping the dough rise and develop flavor.
The new spot will serve traditional New York-style pizza, with added variety including Philadelphia staples such as cheesesteaks and salads. Lesser plans to use fresh, organic ingredients, with nothing frozen. The pizza dough will undergo a 48-hour fermentation process.
“To make dough, it’s a mixture of flour—we have a blend of flour we’re using—yeast, water, salt, and sugar. We put a little bit of the starter in, and we mix it up. We put it into containers to let it rise and let it sit for 30 minutes. We put the dough in refrigeration, and the next day we roll it out. Then, we let it sit for a day or two,” Lesser said.
He continued, “You have to make sure you schedule accordingly as it takes a significant amount of time. It’s also more digestible when you let it ferment. With my recipe, you could eat three slices and you won’t feel overly full or not good.”
Marinas will span about 1,000 square feet, featuring a green-and-white color scheme. Lesser said the space will feel a bit more elevated, with hardwood floors and sconce lighting.
“I’m excited to bring my own vision to life,” he said. “I like the Fishtown area because I like that there are a lot of strong national tenants but there’s also a lot of local mom-and-pop shop tenants. I thought it was a cool mixture and thought my concept would fit right there on that street.”
While an official opening date hasn’t been set, Lesser looks forward to starting this new journey and bringing a taste of Italy to the community.
