Topped with love: Robbie T’s Pizza

Ronnie Parrillo: On North Street in Jamesville, sits an American staple, and a man who loves to make it.

Robbie Thompson: It’s like every day it’s my first day. Can’t wait to get here and get the place going.

Ronnie Parrillo: For Robbie Thompson, pizza isn’t just his living – it’s what he lives to do.

Robbie Thompson: I’ve definitely made over a million pizzas in my life, and I can’t wait to make pizzas every day. There’s millions of things you can do for pizzas – toppings, thickness, thinness.

Ronnie Parrillo: Thompson, or Robbie T as he’s affectionately known around town,” has been kneading, saucing, topping, baking, and slicing for almost 40 years, with no plans on shutting down the ovens any time soon.

Robbie Thompson: Keep going! I’m 60 years old, I’m gonna keep on going.

Ronnie Parrillo: New York State has over six-thousand pizza shops from down in the city to Albany to Buffalo to right here in Central New York, so you could really go to any one of those and grab yourself a bite to eat. But, for Robbie Thompson, making pizza is only one slice of the pie.

Customer 1: I’ve known Rob since he opened up shop here I think in 1983. He’s been loyal to Jamesville for all these years.

Customer 2: He’s a real good friend!

Ronnie Parrillo: At Robbie T’s, the pizza, the sandwiches, the wings, take a backseat to what customers appreciate the most – the chef’s heart.

Robbie Thompson: When I go somewhere I want people to treat me the way I want to be treated – very good. And every time I get here I wanna make sure I take care of them, give them good respect. Customer service is a very big thing for me.

Ronnie Parrillo: Robbie has become part of the fabric of Jamesville during his four decades in the town, donating thousands to youth sports and programs.

Robbie Thompson: And it’s not just sports teams. We do like the band, chorus, plays. Anyhting – if I ain’t giving, I ain’t living.

Ronnie Parrillo: And with every slice of pizza served, it comes with a side of compliments.

Robbie Thompson: That’s good! You did good!

Ronnie Parrillo: A question that’s not just your order, but all about you.

Robbie Thompson: How many people were there? Too many?

Ronnie Parrillo: And most importantly, it’s all topped off with a smile. Sometimes, it’s not what you get served in life – it’s just about how you slice it. In Jamesville, Ronnie Parrillo, NCC News.