This week we met with Nick Tornetta of Tornetta’s Pizzeria.
When Nick was 14 years old, he started helping at this family-owned pizza shop. When you walk in the doors you immediately notice the pictures on the walls. Yes, these really are all family members. Mixed in with these photos, you’ll find citizenship certificates, MSS club photos and wedding pictures from the past.
After graduating from Pottsgrove High School, he decided to go to Montgomery County Community College and Rowen for his business degree. However, Nick felt learning the business aspect of the pizzeria first-hand was going to give him more experience, so he left school and worked full time on site. He loved it and has been doing it since.
His parents purchased a house in Florida and gradually passed most of the day to day down to Nick. Even though he has the responsibilities to make sure everything runs smoothly, he continues to love making the pizzas. When you stop in, you will see him running around doing whatever job needs to be done. When I asked him what his favorite pizza was, he grinned and said, “just cheese, that’s how you know if a pizza is good.”
You might also recognize him from his second business adventure called Aye Caramba that was located at 300 High Street. While he enjoyed creating that Mexican menu and experimenting with all of those ingredients, he decided to close Aye Caramba last month and re-focus on Tornetta’s menu continuing with the handmade, quality ingredients – but now with a new, fresh twist. He has already begun putting new recipes together which he will ask his customers opinions and follow their lead on what should remain on the menu going forward. Make sure you help by trying the new menu items and letting Nick know when he’s nailed it. Stay tuned for the launch of this new menu from Tornetta’s.
Nick and his wife Kate have recently added a new member to their family named Lola. She is an Australian Shepherd puppy and has already won them both over with her cuteness.
When I asked him why he picked Pottstown he simply said “It’s my home. I was born and raised here.”
I asked what made them choose this building and he explained, when he was little, he would run errands with his mom. She would come to this building, which was formally the Tri County Area Credit Union, where she did her banking. He remembered coming in, getting his lollipop and sitting under the tree they had in the corner while she spoke with the tellers. When the building went up for sale, they purchased it and converted a ‘bank’ into a pizza shop. They still use the credit union today for their banking needs.
Tornetta’s offers indoor and outdoor dining as well as online ordering for delivery and pickup. They also carry a large variety of domestic and craft beer which you may drink inhouse or take out.
Nick is community friendly and is quick to offer a helping hand to local businesses when needed. During COVID, he offered to sell Beverly’s Bakery desserts at his shop to help the owner since all weddings were cancelled and they were struggling to survive. He made sure they received 100% of the profits from these sales.
Tornetta’s offers weekly seasonal specials and as a fan of football himself, offers 50 cent wings every Sunday and during any Eagles game.
Tornetta’s is open Wed-Sun 11 am – 9 pm. Their phone number is 610.326.9978
You can also find them on Instagram, Facebook and www.tornettas.com.
Thanks Nick, keep up the good work!