Frank Panzone Jr.
Frank Panzone Jr. and his wife, Joyce, opened Panzone’s Pizza in Beach Haven on May 13th, 1980. They converted a small building at the corner of 11th Street and the Boulevard from an ice cream store to a pizza shop. The building soon sported a fresh coat of bright yellow paint with green trim, and cement was poured for picnic tables under a yellow awning. Patrons ordered their food through a takeout window, and Panzone’s quickly became a popular spot for pizzas, huge steak sandwiches, and hoagies, open until 3 am every night.
In 1984, Panzone’s expanded to the north end of the island, opening Panzone’s Pizza in Surf City at 22nd Street and Long Beach Blvd. By 1987, the Beach Haven location was ready to expand further, prompting Frank Panzone Jr. to build a full-service restaurant, adding pasta to the already famous menu. The new restaurant, Panzone’s Pizza & Pasta, opened for Memorial Day weekend that year. The original location remained and became known as the Slice Shop, continuing to serve pizza from the takeout window. In 1998, the Slice Shop was torn down to make way for an expansion to Panzone’s Pizza & Pasta.
The Family
While building their business, Frank and Joyce’s family also grew. Both daughters, Kristin and Jillian, have fond memories of growing up alongside their parents at the restaurant. Later in life, Jillian married Todd, who shared their passion for the restaurant industry and worked alongside Frank in the kitchen for many years. In 2012, Frank passed away from cancer, and in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy, Kristin, Jillian, and Todd left their corporate jobs to join Joyce in continuing the legacy that Frank and Joyce Panzone started on Long Beach Island in 1980.
Generations of families have been dining at Panzone’s. Frank Panzone Jr. made his pizza famous on Long Beach Island, and Panzone’s has always been and remains family-owned and operated since its inception
