Three Generations Of A New Jersey Family Have Owned And Operated The Legendary Papa's Tomato Pies
By Kim Magaraci|Published April 05, 2022
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Kim Magaraci
Author
Kim Magaraci graduated Rutgers University with a degree in Geography and has spent the last seven years as a freelance travel writer. Contact: kmagaraci@onlyinyourstate.com
New Jersey is the pizza capital of the world, so it’s no wonder we’re home to the oldest pizzeria in the country! Not only has Papa’s Tomato Pies in New Jersey been around seemingly forever, but it also serves up some of the best food you’ll ever get to try. What began as a small shop in 1912 has since exploded to become one of the most coveted hidden gem pizza spots in the state.
Papa's Tomato Pies was founded in 1912 by Giuseppe "Joe" Papa in Trenton, New Jersey.
Over the years, the shop has moved locations multiple times, first around Trenton and finally to its permanent home in Robbinsville. The fact that it never closed during the moves and continued to serve pizza makes it the oldest family-owned pizza shop in the country, and the longest-running one, too.
The Papa family has kept the doors open for more than a century. After Joe Papa retired in the 1960s, his daughter Tessie and her husband Abie took over and continued to serve up the best tomato pies in town.
Joe Papa's grandson, Nick Azzaro, started working at the shop when he was 14, and now he runs the show. It's truly a family-run establishment, and the recipes have been passed down from generation to generation.
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Today, the tomato pies are still made with the same attention to detail and high-quality ingredients as they always have been, and it's no wonder this spot is a must-visit for any foodie in the Garden State.
In 2012, one hundred years after Joe Papa opened his pizza parlor, Papa's Tomato Pies was named one of the best 35 pizzas in America. How special is that!
Everyone who stops in agrees that the tomato pies and pizzas served up here are some of the best they've ever tried, and that's high praise for being located in the heart of the Pizza Capital of the Country!
You'll feel like part of the family, too, when you stop in to dine at Papa's Tomato Pies. You can enjoy a seat inside the timeless restaurant or enjoy the fresh air and sunshine when you order a slice on a nice sunny day.
Have you ever been to Papa’s Tomato Pies in New Jersey before? Share with us your experience in the comments section! Or if you’re looking for more information about this pizza place, visit Papa’s Tomato Pies on the web to see their menu and read more about their legendary history.
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