After more than 51 years, Westport Pizzeria is closing and Carmelo "Mel" Mioli, its owner, is retiring, but not before Westport and state officials honored the Mioli family and the business with a celebration at the Post Road East restaurant on Friday.

Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe and state Sen. Tony Hwang read local and state proclamations, and Hwang even bought a bunch of pizzas to give out free slices to customers. "When we moved here from Italy, we found that we really liked the people and this town," Mioli said. "We've been fortunate to have made a lot of friends." His wife, Carrie, reiterated those sentiments. "Westport has given back to us twice what we tried to give to the town."