Beach Haven's 'A Slice Of Heaven' Closes After 30 Years And Loss Of Its Co

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

After three decades as a Jersey Shore staple, a popular family-owned pizzeria is closing its doors.

A Slice of Heaven located at N. Bay Avenue in Beach Haven, closed this month, marking the end of an era for generations of Long Beach Island locals.

Owner Colleen Mazzella told customers in a Facebook post that the pizzeria must vacate its building by Nov. 30 and that its final day of business would be Nov. 17. Mazzella said she hopes to open in another spot as soon.

For Colleen, the loss of the building is intertwined with the loss of her husband and business partner, Dominick “Donnie” Mazzella, who died in May 2024 at age 57. Dominick’s obituary described A Slice of Heaven as “his baby,” a business he poured his soul into after the couple opened it together in May 1995.

The obituary notes that after Dominick relocated to Cedar Run in 1994 and operated a pizzeria with his father, he met Colleen in a moment that would change both of their lives — when she accidentally walked out without paying for her eggplant parm hero. They soon opened A Slice of Heaven, building not only a business but a marriage. “Dom and I went through every major life event within the walls of that building,” Colleen wrote in her announcement.

What they built became much more than a restaurant. In a Thanksgiving message posted weeks later, Colleen wrote, “To our amazing Family, because the word customer does not describe you all, HAPPY THANKSGIVING.” She reflected on Dominick’s love of the holiday and the life they created together: “We were blessed with an amazing husband, partner, and best friend for over 30 years. I was loved enough for a lifetime.”

She also spoke of the young staff who got their first jobs there, the friendships formed behind the counter, and the community of small business owners who supported one another. “Together we built a beautiful business that supported our family and many others,” she wrote. “We met the most amazing people, many of whom have become lifelong friends.”

Most importantly, she said, she carries forward the best part of their life together — their son, Dominick. “I was left here with all of the best parts of me and Dom in our little miracle Dominick. Every moment being his mother is the most amazing blessing I could ask for.”

Colleen's post closed with the gratitude that has defined the business for three decades:

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love, support, business and friendship over the past 30 years. See you all in the next chapter.”