Romano family tradition makes its stand vs. coronavirus
Romano’s tradition, work ethic does battle vs. virus at Essington eatery
TINICUM » The Great Depression was dragging, but Nazzereno Romano would use his two strongest weapons to fight back.
His tomato pie recipe. And his work ethic.
“He was an immigrant from Italy,” his grandson, Pete Romano Jr., said. “He came here in 1922. His specialty was South Philly tomato pie. No cheese. He lived in South Philadelphia. He used to make the pies at home, then take them to the Boston Bakery at 20th and Sigel. And then he’d pull a wagon down Washington Street yelling, ‘Pizzola, pizzola,’ selling it for 10 cents a slice.”
Nazzereno Romano sold enough tomato pie to open Essington Pizzeria in 1944 before moving what would become Romano’s Pizzeria and Restaurant to its current location at 246 Wanamaker Ave. in 1954. His son Pete would eventually take over the business, which since 1998 has been run by Pete Jr., the former Interboro High football wide receiver.
For decades, Romano’s has thrived, often fighting off unexpected pressures. Pete Sr. was able to withstand the closing of the nearby Westinghouse plant and its steady flow of hungry customers in 1985. Most recently, with coronavirus conerns, governmentordered restrictions and a decrease in traffic to and from Philadelphia International Airport providing modern business hurdles, Pete Jr. is finding 21st-century ways to push a different kind of wagon.
“I’m working overtime,” he said. “Oh, baby, am I. I have two websites. One is Romanostromboli.com, and the other site is WeShipStromboli.com. Last week, I was giving away free small pies. I was offering EMTs and first responders a soup and sandwich for $1.99. I have my web guy putting up a buy-one-get-one. But, yes, I am trying to figure out a way to survive this.”
All businesses, particularly restaurants, are facing new challenges. But for Romano’s, they continue to mount. Not only has the
“I’m working overtime. Oh, baby, am I. I have two websites. One is Romanostromboli.com, and the other site is WeShipStromboli.com. Last week, I was giving away free small pies. I was offering EMTs and first responders a soup and sandwich for $1.99. I have my web guy putting up a buy-one-get-one. But, yes, I am trying to figure out a way to survive this.” — Pete Romano Jr.
restaurant been limited to supplying take-out orders only, but the virtual emptiness of the 32 hotels within a 3-mile radius has been particularly problematic.
With Nazzereno Romano having been the inventor of the stromboli, and with the business having been featured over the years on The Travel Channel and the “Today Show” for that signature product, the business had a particular following among airport regulars.
Often, pilots and flight attendants staying overnight in the area will call ahead to make sure the business remained open to accommodate late flights. Sports teams, among them the Lakers, Dodgers, Yankees
and Orioles, have been known to place large orders for delivery to their chartered flights. Recently, Tony Bennett, who was appearing in the area, had Romano’s provide the catering for his private jet. And in 1997, when Bill Clinton was president, Romano’s was commissioned to send strombolis to no less significant an airport concern than Air Force One.
But suddenly, with air travel minimized by the pandemic, would-be customers are not stopping by for a last-minute Philadelphia-food fix on their way to
the airport. Nor is the restaurant expecting to host the 15 or so groups of tourists from Europe who have made it a popular stop on an East Coast tour, complete with a presentation from Pete Jr. on the history of the stromboli and the family business.
Romano, whose wide receivers coach at Interboro was the “Invincible” former Eagles walk-on Vince Papale, is ready for the fight.
“We’ve got this,” he said. “We’ve got this. God is watching over us.”
Romano’s has not had to lay off any employees. One reason is because natural business forces, including general personnel turnover, conspired to trim its workforce from 33 to 11 just before the pandemic. Circumstances have forced Pete Jr. to cease trying to fill those positions. But he said he has increased the hourly pay of his waitstaff, reassigning those employees to the kitchen or the take-out counter.
While he said he has had some difficulty maintaining delivery employees, some of whom expressed natural health concerns,
Romano has turned to such services as Uber Eats and Grubhub to expand delivery of his product, often of the bake-at-home variety, to such distant locations as Oxford, Pa., and Cherry Hill, N.J.
Though Romano’s has been closing at 8 p.m., Pete Jr. says his Friday hours will be extended beginning this week.
“Philadelphia is about the underdog, the fighters who never give in no matter what obstacles they face,” he said. “We don’t quit.”
Nazzereno Romano would not have had it any other way.