Angerami Sisters Discover Their Place at Halfmoon’s Courtside Grille

December 3, 2024

Updated: December 3, 2024

HALFMOON — The Angerami sisters, Angela and Roie,⁤ who are well-known for their roles at Civitello’s Italian pastry shop in Schenectady, have discovered⁣ a⁢ fresh opportunity at ⁤The Courtside Grille in Halfmoon.

“We’re accustomed to putting in 10-hour days. This opportunity seemed like a perfect‌ fit for us,” Roie‍ Angerami shared. ⁤The sisters have spent years managing the Schenectady shop, which temporarily⁢ closed for renovations earlier this ⁢year.

The Courtside Grille, which ‍launched in 2021, is nestled within⁣ the Impact Athletic Center in ‌Halfmoon. The menu⁤ features⁢ a variety of salads, sandwiches, wraps, and fried dishes. Angela⁣ and Roie‌ Angerami were brought on board to enhance the lunchtime⁣ business.

“Our goal was to establish a ‍thriving lunch‍ business,” Erin Huerter, co-owner⁣ of‍ Impact ‌with her ⁣son and NBA player Kevin Huerter, ‍and several others, explained. “We wanted to leverage ‌our location, surrounded by businesses and residential areas, to‌ attract customers, rather than them heading to the main part of Clifton Park.”

The expansive grill has⁢ the ambiance of a deli-meets-lounge, complete with ‌large TVs on one side and a‍ view of ‍the⁤ courts on the other. It serves lunch and dinner from Tuesday⁢ to Friday and during weekend⁣ tournaments. The Angeramis joined the Grille in mid-November, focusing primarily on the weekday lunch service.

“Initially, ⁣it was a bit challenging to ⁣find our way around, as we were still in the Civitello’s mindset. But now, we’ve got the ⁣hang of it,” Roie⁤ Angerami ‍said.

Behind ‍the scenes, the Angeramis are⁤ hard at work, preparing homemade bread and tomato pie.

“We’re also making‌ greens and ⁢beans and chicken soup,” ‍Roie Angerami added, mentioning that they plan to start making stuffed bread soon. Angela’s chicken salad and Roie’s eggplant sandwich, featuring breaded and fried eggplant with homemade sauce,⁢ have recently been added to the menu.

Even though they’ve only been at the Halfmoon venue for a short time,⁣ loyal customers from Schenectady have already paid them a visit. ‌One customer was moved to tears upon‌ seeing them.

“It’s been truly heartwarming to see people ⁤who have known them for years reconnect with them,” Huerter said.

Civitello’s, situated on North Jay ‍Street, was established by the sisters’ grandfather in 1921 and has ‍since‌ become a Schenectady staple. Angela and‍ Roie Angerami, ‍the ‍third generation⁢ to own ‌Civitello’s, started working there at a young age. In 2022, they ‌partnered with Mark Novak, who purchased the ⁤shop and the adjacent buildings, and has taken over ⁣all⁤ maintenance ‍responsibilities.

The shop⁣ is currently undergoing significant renovations and has ⁢been closed ⁢since‍ January.⁢ Novak initially planned to reopen‍ in the fall, but structural‌ issues have led to delays. The new target opening date is early January.

“The interior will remain the same, except for the ⁣addition of ⁢the original tin⁣ ceiling,” Novak said. “We discovered an old photo ‌from the 1920s or 1930s, showing ‍a black and ‌white tile floor and a tin ceiling.”

He mentioned that they’re refurbishing the counters and reupholstering the booths. Upon reopening, ⁣the menu will feature the familiar Italian pastries, pizza, Italian ice, and sandwiches, served⁤ by some of the ⁢original ‍staff members.

While Angela and‌ Roie Angerami miss their Civitello’s customers, they plan to continue their culinary⁢ journey at the Courtside Grille even after the North Jay Street shop reopens.

“We still want to‌ interact ⁤with our customers. I don’t miss the long hours, but in a way, I do,” Roie Angerami admitted, laughing.

The sisters show no signs of⁢ slowing down, although they’re⁤ adjusting to the shorter work hours.

“We’re adapting quite well,” Angela Angerami said.

The commute is also manageable,‌ as they ⁤recently ‍relocated to Mechanicville.

“We’ve found our groove here, and hopefully, we can grow further in ‌the future,” Roie Angerami said.

Devoted Civitello’s customers seeking‍ familiar faces can find the Angeramis serving lunch at The Courtside Grille ⁢from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ‌Tuesday through ‌Friday. It’s located at 390 ⁢Route 146. For more details, visit impactathleticsny.com.

Emily Stanton

Emily Stanton, a skillful journalist previously based in Boston, is adept at covering a diverse array of stories. Her thorough and engaging reporting style, honed with a Master's in Journalism from Boston University, focuses on community-relevant stories.