Penso’s Pizza marks 90 years in Tuscarawas County with recipe for consistency

Consistency is the key to success as Penso’s Pizza celebrates its 90th year in business. With locations in Dover, New Philadelphia and Strasburg, Penso’s Pizza has been a favorite since 1936.

Penso’s Pizza started in Dover as the South Wooster Grill on the corner of Regent Street and Wooster Avenue, across the street from the current location of Williams Furniture. It was operated by the late Paul and Mary Penso, the grandparents and great-grandparents of the current owners. Their restaurant also featured bands on weekends.

At the time, business was booming at Reeves Mill. Paul Penso loved to cook, so he made pizza and set it on the bar for mill workers to eat after their shifts. When customers wanted to start taking pizzas home, a business was born.

“When great-grandpa started serving pizza, people didn't know what pizza was at the time,” Josh Penso said. “He had to explain to them what pizza was and where it came from and its history in Italy.”

Paul Penso immigrated to the United States in 1924 from Bari, Italy.

Penso’s pizzas are still made from scratch.

“The pizza itself has been exactly the same. We still use as much of the same ingredients as they would use 30, 40 years ago, the same brands and everything that are still around,” Josh Penso said. “We're not trying to be that next coolest, hippest pizza joint. We just want to stay tried and true to our history and just continue making the same pizza we've made forever.”

Some customers come from outside the area only once or twice a year, and they love the fact that the pizza still tastes the same as they remember it.

“We take a lot of pride in that,” Josh Penso said.

The pizza is not the only thing that stays the same. Orders are still taken with pencil and paper.

“We start out with an empty notebook paper with just the times written down,” Josh Penso said. “That keeps us on track, because we know if we fill these slots in, that's how fast we can cook pizzas in these ovens. We do about two to three pizzas every five minutes.”

The Penso family appreciates the support it gets from the community and its employees for their dedication to serving the public.

“We're busier than ever. Last year was the busiest year that we've ever seen, and this year continues actually busier than last year,” Josh Penso said.

Penso’s Pizza recently was honored in PMQ Pizza magazine. It was inducted into the PMQ Pizza Hall of Fame, and the magazine ran an article on its 90 years of pizza-making.

For the 90th anniversary, the Dover store recently underwent a remodel that showcases the business’s history through displays on the wall. The shop also added three booths for guests to dine in and plans to add a couple of tables outside when the weather warms up.

Pizza has been a calling for members of the Penso family over the generations. Sons, daughters and even cousins have worked in a Penso’s shop, even if they did not make it a career.

“You always hear a lot of small businesses don't make it much past the third generation,” Josh Penso said. “Fortunately for us, we're on to the fourth generation. And actually, my oldest son, who's 16 years old, now works here. So, we've got a fifth-generation worker here.”

Josh Penso worked about 18 years in information technology at a local hospital before making the switch back to the family business and pizza-making.

“I started getting a little burned out. Dad (Kent Penso) and I had talked off and on about it. I said, ‘Hey, whenever you're ready, let me know if you're looking to slow down. I'd be interested,’” Josh Penso said.

The New Philadelphia shop is owned by John Penso II, and the Strasburg shop is owned by Zach and Melissa Penso.

All three shops continue to make their pizza a uniquely wonderful experience. The chewy pies are cooked to a light-brown perfection, and a number of other toppings are available to customize each order.

To help celebrate the 90th anniversary with a pizza of your own, call the Dover shop at 330-343-0516, New Philadelphia shop at 330-343-0506 or the Strasburg shop at 330-878-0929.