– Penn Live– March 16, 2023 –
A growing Philadelphia-area pizza restaurant is coming to Cumberland County with its square pies.
Santucci’s Original Square Pizza, a third-generation business specializing in Italian food, will open at a former Wendy’s at 5235 Simpson Ferry Road in Hampden Township.
It will be the first Santucci’s restaurant outside of the chain’s Philadelphia and Jersey Shore markets, and according to spokesman John Mahalis the first location with a drive-thru. He said an opening date has not been announced.
For six decades, Santucci’s has been recognized as one of the best pizzas and was recently voted into the Pizza Hall of Fame, according to its website.
Santucci’s Original Square Pizza specializes in square pizza with sauce on top of the cheese. One of the restaurants is opening in Cumberland County. Photo by Janine Feeney
Santucci’s is known for its square upside down pizzas made with sauce on the top of the cheese, and also sells wings, pastas and hoagies.
Third-generation owner Alicia Santucci told the Atlantic City Weekly in 2020 the pizza looks Sicilian, but with a medium crust.
“We haven’t changed a thing when it comes to the pizza. In fact, we kept my father on as a partner in all of the locations. He is our quality control expert. He goes to one of our locations several times a week and his main focus is the pizza and cleanliness. If the pizza isn’t right and the place isn’t spotless, we hear about it immediately,” she said.
Her grandparents, the late Joseph and Philomena Santucci, opened the first Santucci’s in Northeast Philadelphia in 1959. Today, the family, including Alicia’s brothers, Frank Jr. and Anthony, oversee eight locations and are growing the business with additional franchises. One is opening this fall in Washington Township.
Santucci’s also offers catering and fundraising opportunities. It joins a list of retail newcomers setting up shop in Cumberland County including Mr. Sticky’s, Crumbl Cookies and Dave’s Hot Chicken.