DiFara’s Closed Only Temporarily

DiFara’s in Brooklyn was recently closed for owner Domenico DeMarco’s foot surgery, not for forever, as many had feared:

The famed pizzeria on Avenue J in Midwood was unexpectedly shuttered for the first time in 18 years after owner and pizza master Domenico DeMarco — who makes every pie himself — had foot surgery.

“I was really worried about all the people from far away and I wouldn’t be here to make them pizza,” said DeMarco, 69, who runs the store with his seven kids and works seven days a week.

DeMarco closed for a week — but the sudden shuttering sent panicked ripples among foodies across the city and sparked rumors it was closed for good.

DeMarco said if he couldn’t be there himself, he didn’t want to risk serving his customers an inferior pizza.

“I believe that if you close the shop, the people will come back,” he said. “But if you stay open and give them something [other] than what they’re used to, they won’t come back.”

The last time DeMarco closed up was for a 1988 trip to Italy.

“This just ruined my weekend. I’ve been thinking about this pizza for about a month,” said Justin Mazzeo, 23, who stopped by Friday while home from college, only to find the doors locked.

“You have to see this guy in action. He’s slow as molasses, but he makes the best damn pizza anywhere,” added Mazzeo.

Eyewitness accounts to the contrary, 18 years is an awfully long time to be open . . .

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