New ‘Brothers Pizza’ opens in the heart of Langhorne
LANGHORNE BOROrGH – The parking lot in front of Brothers Pizza in the heart of Langhorne Borough is bustling.
Just weeks after opening their newest location inside a renovated gas station at the corner of Routes 213 and 413, business is good for coowners Pat and John Iovine and business partner Salvatore Penza.
Brothers Pizza, a mainstay in the community for 42 years, was located in the Pine Watson Shopping Center before pulling up roots and making the move to the nearby corner.
The brothers’ late father, Gennaro Iovine, operated the business before them. He had previously worked for his cousin at the pizza place.
Pat Iovine said business has been good since the move and that people are glad they rebuilt the gas station, which had been a town eyesore for many years sitting vacant and rundown at the town’s busiest intersection.
The owners had the dilapidated station completely gutted over the summer and rebuilt thanks to the support of Langhorne Borough officials who were anxious to rid the town of the deteriorating building.
Even though the location is different, the menu is still the same at Brothers. There’s nothing too fancy. They sell pizza, cheesesteak sandwiches, hoagies and some pasta.
“We’re known for our pizza,” he said, noting that their crust is very popular. The recipe is the same that they have been using for more than four decades.
“We stuck to it,” Iovine said. “We didn’t change anything. We use the same products.”
One thing that has changed is the restaurant. It’s much larger with S5 seats. Next year, outdoor dining will be expanded to full capacity.
When the new building was planned, it was designed to look like it was a part of Langhorne and like it always was there. For example, there are old-fashioned lamps in the parking lot. The most prominent is a historic photograph of the old gas station taken in the early 19T0s that takes up an entire wall. The picture was taken from what is now called the Mayor’s Playground, which has been improved several times since then.
Iovine said they decided to open the new restaurant because it was a good time with the real estate market. He said it was an opportunity to “own a piece of Langhorne.”
Longtime borough councilmember Kathy Horwatt, who is marking her 30th year on council, said Brothers Pizza is an institution in the borough
“It epitomizes Langhorne Borough,” she said. When college kids come home, one of the first places they go to is Brothers Pizza, according to Horwatt.
Going to Brothers Pizza before the new place was opened, she said, was like going to get pizza almost secretly when it was hidden in the heart of the shopping center.
“Now, it’s prominently displayed,” she said. “It’s because it’s out front. It can be shared with everyone.”
Calling Brothers Pizza a fixture in downtown Langhorne Borough, Horwath raved about their pizza. “It is excellent because they use high quality ingredients,” she said. “You can eat a piece of pizza without grease dripping off of it.”
Horwatt is not only pleased with the food, she’s thrilled that the corner property has been redeveloped. “They did a great job of restoring the old station,” she said. “They actually gutted the old gas station. They didn’t tear it down.”