1.1K+Shares

Italian Eatery John the Baker Opens in Coral Springs

John the Baker Pembroke Pines location.

By: Sharon Aron Baron

Known to locals who grew up on their delicious pizza and garlic rolls in Pembroke Pines, John the Baker has finally headed north with their newest Coral Springs location.

The new 2,200-square-foot restaurant located at 9709 W. Sample Road is open and will seat 80 hungry customers. Similar to the Pembroke Pines location, the restaurant offers eat-in dining, take-out, and catering.

Coral Springs owner Jon Duchin has been a devoted John the Baker customer since he was in high school. A successful businessman, he has been a Broward resident for over 20 years and has two children with his wife, Karina.

“I grew up on the pizza and garlic rolls,” said Duchin. “I had my first date with my wife at John the Baker. Now I own one, and I am thrilled.”

The garlic rolls are what customers dream about, said Founder John Scinicariello. Customers are very passionate about John The Baker’s garlic rolls.

“When people move away, they beg me to FedEx them to wherever they are in the country. When they come back to visit, the first place on their list to go is John The Baker,” said Scinicariello. “I’m not exaggerating. Now they’ll have a second option.”

Whole Body Dietitian Nutriiton Counseling

Coral Springs owner Jon Duchin.

John The Baker was founded in 1960 by John Scinicariello, Sr., as a family-style Italian restaurant, which prides itself on using fresh ingredients and no microwave ovens, fryers, or chemical additives to create their Italian dishes, pastas, and pizza. His grandparents Nonno Johnny and Nonna Palmina, immigrated from Gaeta, Italy, to Boston, where his grandfather worked for a bakery. In 1960 they moved to Stamford, Connecticut, where they opened John the Baker.

After Scinicariello’s grandfather’s passing, his Uncle Mario and grandmother opened Mario the Baker in Stamford, where he worked all through High School. In 1969, his uncle sold the restaurant and moved to North Miami to open Mario the Baker. In 1973, Scinicariello moved to South Florida and became the manager at his restaurant for 23 years. He left in 1996 to open John the Baker in Pembroke Pines with his wife Patty, and in 2006, opened a second location in Cooper City. They had two locations for one year and then sold the Pines location in 2007. In 2014, they closed the Cooper City location and headed back to Pembroke Pines in a newer location at 2116 N. Flamingo Rd.

Now with their fourth generation working as part of the business, they have expanded their menu of services and outreach in the South Florida market. Focusing on old family recipes, they have developed a loyal following among locals and tourists.

The restaurant’s long-term commitment to the community has resulted in the walls of their Pembroke Pines location lined with plaques from dozens of sports teams and charitable causes: Little League teams; church groups, charity events, as well as academic and community service.

“We are opening in a very popular shopping center that is conveniently located with plenty of free parking. This is a dream come true, and I know customers and staff are going to love it here,” said Duchin.

John the Baker
9709 W. Sample Road
Coral Springs FL
Monday – Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Author Profile

Sharon Aron Baron

Editor of Talk Media and writer for Coral Springs Talk. CST was created in 2012 to provide News, Views, and Entertainment for the residents of Coral Springs and the rest of South Florida.