Big Apple Pizza & Pasta is a Florida pizza chain that was founded in 1997. The Italian restaurant describes itself as a New York-style pizzeria.
 
The Big Apple Pizza & Pasta in Fort Pierce, Florida, made national news on September 9, 2012, when U.S, President Barack Obama visited the location and owner Scott Van Duzer. Van Duzer gave the president a big bear hug and lifted him off the ground.
 
 
Big Apple Pizza & Pasta
Big Apple Pizza Italian Restaurant – New York-style Pizzeria
Our Proud History
Many years ago, the Lino family migrated to the neighborhood from Brooklyn New York with the dream of opening a New York-style pizzeria, bringing with them a sense of pride and tradition along with authentic recipes developed by Filomena Lino herself, the family matriarch.
 
Humbly, 25 years later with support from our community, Big Apple Pizza and Pasta Italian Restaurant ® has become known for our commitment to quality and old fashioned customer service.
(...)
Big Apple Pizza & Pasta Italian Restaurant ® has restaurants in the Florida cities of Hobe Sound, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie West, Palm City, Fort Pierce, Stuart and Vero Beach.
     
Newspapers.com
17 May 2012, The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, FL), Neighborhood Post sec., pg. 9, col. 1:
Big Apple Pizza has tasty
pies and big portions of pasta
 
Twitter
AFP News Agency
@AFP
#PHOTO: Barack Obama is picked up in the air by Scott Van Duzer, owner of Big Apple Pizza and Pasta Italian Restaurant http://bit.ly/PULXVp
6:45 PM · Sep 9, 2012·Twitter Web Client
 
Google Groups: alt.politics.republican
Right-winger Bear Hugs Obama - Plans to Vote for Him Again
wy
Sep 10, 2012, 3:41:23 PM
Fort Pierce, Florida (CNN) - President Barack Obama got a warm embrace on Sunday - one that lifted him about a foot off the ground.
 
While campaigning in Fort Pierce, Florida, the president stopped into Big Apple Pizza and Pasta Restaurant, where about 10 customers were gathered inside, and greeted the shop’s owner, Scott Van Duzer.
 
“Scott, what’s going on man,” the president said as he walked in. “Scott, let me tell you, you are like the biggest pizza shop owner I’ve ever seen.”
 
Van Duzer, 46, stands 6-foot-3, weighs 260 pounds and says he can bench press 350 pounds, according to a pool reporter who was at the restaurant.
 
“Everybody look at these guns,” Obama said, pointing to Van Duzer’s chest. “If I eat your pizza will I look like that?”
 
Laughing, Van Duzer hugged the president, arched his back and hoisted him off his feet.
 
“Look at that!” Obama said after he was back on the ground. “Man are you a powerlifter or what?”
 
Talking to reporters afterward, Van Duzer said he didn’t know the president was coming to his restaurant until about 40 minutes beforehand. The Florida business owner rushed from the driving range to get there in time.
     
Newspapers.com
2 January 2014, The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, FL), Neighborhood Post sec., pg. 10, col. 1:
Big Apple Pizza serves
many Italian favorites
 
Twitter
Will Greenlee
@OffTheBeatTweet
Scott Van Duzer, owner of Big Apple Pizza & Pasta and president of the Van Duzer Foundation
4:42 PM · Dec 19, 2018·Twitter for iPhone
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark BIG APPLE PIZZA & PASTA
Goods and Services IC 043. US 100 101. G & S: restaurant and catering services. FIRST USE: 19970815. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20010109
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 86874394
Filing Date January 13, 2016
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition January 17, 2017
Registration Number 5174293
Registration Date April 4, 2017
Owner (REGISTRANT) Big Apple Pizza, Inc. CORPORATION FLORIDA 5178 S.W. Orchid Bay Drive Palm City FLORIDA 34990
Attorney of Record Meredith Frank Mendez
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE “PIZZA & PASTA” APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL-2(F)
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE