Over the past decade, Jay Manno has quietly built one of WNY’s largest casual restaurant groups under the umbrella of Frankie Primo’s +39. The original Frankie Primo’s +39 opened on Chippewa in 2015, earning a steady following for its pizza, pasta, and lively patio.
In 2021, a second location on North Tonawanda’s Webster Street quickly established itself as a neighborhood anchor. Forno e Gelato soon followed, allowing Manno to expand the group’s baking and dessert production while supporting both locations.
The newest chapter, Forno e Mercato, is housed in a former bakery in Amherst. A retail market and bake shop, it offers baked goods, pinsa, sandwiches, soups, and imported Italian goods…