12 Pennsylvania Pizza Counters That Haven’t Changed Since The ’80s
In a world obsessed with the new, the trendy, and the ever-changing, there’s a unique magic in places that steadfastly refuse to evolve.
They are culinary time capsules, delicious, and deeply nostalgic. What if we told you that tucked away in neighborhoods and small towns across Pennsylvania are a dozen pizza counters where the decor, the menu, and most importantly, the vibe are exactly as they were over forty years ago?
They’re living museums, serving up slices of history that taste as good now as they did when you were a kid.
1. Tacconelli’s Pizzeria (Philadelphia)
Family recipes and a 300-year-old brick oven define this Port Richmond institution. Customers still call ahead to reserve their dough, a tradition dating back to when founder Giovanni Tacconelli first opened shop. The limited daily dough supply means when they’re out, they’re out.
The sparse dining room hasn’t seen updates in decades – the same wooden tables, basic chairs, and faded photos on the walls greet customers today. Most regulars prefer it this way.
Once during a summer heatwave in ’89, the owners refused to install air conditioning, claiming it would alter the dough’s texture. Loyal patrons sweated it out then, and they still do now.
2. Mineo’s Pizza House (Pittsburgh)
The same red and white checkered tablecloths have adorned Mineo’s tables since Giovanni Mineo opened his doors in 1958. Their signature thick, cheese-laden pies emerge from ovens that have been baking continuously for over four decades.
The menu board behind the counter still features removable plastic letters, displaying prices that have reluctantly increased over time. Cash registers from the early ’80s continue tallying orders, making the distinctive mechanical sounds that signal another pizza sold.
Walls covered with Pittsburgh sports memorabilia chronicle local history through championship years and rebuilding seasons. The ancient dough mixer in the back has kneaded enough dough to stretch across Pennsylvania twice over.
3. Fox’s Pizza Den (Connellsville)
The original wood-paneled walls at Fox’s Pizza Den have witnessed four decades of pizza enjoyment. Founder Jim Fox’s vision remains intact with the same counter where locals have placed orders since 1971.
Old-school pizza cutters still slice through their famous wedge-shaped pies. The staff continues to hand-toss dough in full view of waiting customers, a practice they’ve maintained since day one.
My grandfather took me here every Friday night throughout the ’80s. The same pizza cutter who served us then, Bill, still works the evening shift on weekends. He remembers every regular’s order and always asks about family members by name. The worn vinyl booths have supported generations of Connellsville families.
4. Pica’s Restaurant (Upper Darby)
Pica’s rectangular pizzas have been served on the same metal trays since the Reagan administration. The distinctive upside-down preparation method – cheese first, then sauce on top – continues to distinguish their pies from competitors.
Frank Pica Sr.’s original recipes remain unchanged, with sauce made fresh daily according to his handwritten instructions. The dining room maintains its 1980s charm with wood-grain tables and burgundy vinyl chairs that have supported countless pizza lovers.
Ceiling fans installed during the Carter administration still spin overhead. The vintage neon sign in the window flickers with the same warm glow that has beckoned hungry customers for generations. Even the staff uniforms maintain their classic burgundy and white color scheme.
5. Arcaro & Genell (Old Forge)
The heart of Old Forge pizza country houses this gem where time stands still. Their signature rectangular trays have been coming out of the same ovens since Angelo Genell and Pat Arcaro first partnered up. The restaurant’s front counter displays the same glass case filled with ready-to-serve cuts.
Formica tabletops in warm amber tones host families who’ve been coming for generations. The original recipe cards, yellowed with age, remain secured in a metal box near the kitchen.
I remember visiting with my dad when I was just a kid. We sat at the corner table by the window, which still has the same view of Main Street today. The wooden spoon they use to stir the sauce might actually be older than some of their customers.
6. Revello’s Pizza Cafe (Old Forge)
The Revello family’s pizza cafe maintains its 1980s charm with paneled walls and the original counter where locals have ordered their famous white pizza for decades. Their classic cash register, which makes a satisfying ‘ka-ching’ with each transaction, refuses to be replaced by modern point-of-sale systems.
Hand-written specials still appear on the same chalkboard that’s hung since opening day. The pizza pans, seasoned by thousands of bakes, impart a flavor no new equipment could replicate.
The worn path in the linoleum floor traces the route servers have traveled from kitchen to dining room for forty years. Ceiling tiles, slightly yellowed from years of pizza steam, frame the space where generations of Old Forge residents have gathered for their unique rectangular ‘trays’ rather than round pies.
7. Mary Lou’s (Old Forge)
Mary Lou’s modest storefront hasn’t seen a renovation since shoulder pads were in fashion. The screen door still announces customers with the same creak and slap it did when Ronald Reagan was president. Their pizza recipe remains locked in an actual vault, unchanged since Mary Lou Verdetto first wrote it down.
The kitchen’s original Vulcan oven continues churning out perfect crusts despite its advanced age. Photos of local high school sports teams from the ’80s still adorn walls alongside pictures of satisfied customers from decades past.
The same rolling pin that has been used for decades still flattens the dough, a testament to the shop’s commitment to tradition. The ancient refrigerator hums along, defiantly resisting modern efficiency standards.
8. Maroni’s Pizza House (Scranton)
Maroni’s continues to serve their legendary thin crust pies on the same paper plates they’ve used since the ’80s. The ancient dough mixer, affectionately named ‘The Beast’ by staff, has been in continuous operation since before The Office made Scranton famous.
Their original booth seating, upholstered in cracked red vinyl, has supported the weight of countless pizza enthusiasts. The pay phone in the corner hasn’t worked in years, but nobody has the heart to remove this relic of the past.
Pizza boxes stacked behind the counter still feature the same hand-drawn logo designed by founder Tony Maroni’s nephew in 1982. The collection of business cards and local flyers pinned to the bulletin board includes some dating back to the early Reagan years.
9. The Original Italian Pizza (Millville)
Rural Millville’s pizza landmark maintains its Reagan-era authenticity from the original laminate countertops to the faded menu board. Family recipes brought over from Sicily in the 1960s remain unchanged, with sauce made fresh daily using the same stainless steel pot that’s been in service for four decades.
The vintage Coca-Cola clock on the wall still keeps perfect time despite its faded face. Wooden spoons, handles worn smooth from decades of stirring, hang in the same spots they did when the first Bush was president.
Flour-dusted recipe cards, protected in plastic sleeves, contain handwritten notes from the original owner. The dining area’s drop ceiling tiles, installed during the MTV launch era, have witnessed countless first dates, family celebrations, and post-game team gatherings.
10. Colonial Pizza (Easton)
Walking into Colonial Pizza feels like stepping through a time portal to 1983. The same pizza peels hanging on the wall have been there since opening day, their wooden handles polished smooth by decades of use. Staff still write orders on the same green guest checks they’ve used since the beginning.
The vintage metal napkin dispensers have never been replaced, maintaining their satisfying mechanical action when pulled. Tomato-sauce-stained recipes remain tucked safely in a three-ring binder near the register.
I watched my first Phillies game on the same TV that still hangs in the corner back in ’86. The wood-paneled walls display faded photographs of local little league teams sponsored throughout the decades. Even the distinctive pizza aroma seems preserved from another era, a perfect blend of oregano, yeast, and tradition.
11. Original’s Restaurant & Bar (Philadelphia)
Original’s maintains its authentic ’80s atmosphere with wood-grain laminate booths that have supported Philly pizza lovers for generations. Their antique dough mixer, acquired in 1975, continues producing the perfect consistency for their hand-tossed pies.
The bar area features the same brass foot rail installed during the Carter administration. Vintage neon signs cast the same colorful glow they did when Rocky III was in theaters. The staff continues to use the original recipe book, its pages protected by plastic sheet protectors yellowed with age.
The kitchen’s exhaust hood, installed in 1981, has never been replaced, just meticulously maintained. Behind the counter, a wall of faded polaroid photos showcases loyal customers from decades past. Even the bathroom still features the original black and white checkered floor tiles that defined 1980s restaurant design.
12. The Pizza House (Pittsburgh)
Pittsburgh’s Pizza House proudly maintains its 1980s character with vintage arcade games still operational in the corner. The original pizza ovens, manufactured in 1979, continue producing perfectly charred crusts despite four decades of continuous use.
Their signature red plastic cups haven’t changed style since the Steelers’ Super Bowl XIV victory. The worn counter shows indentations where thousands of customers have leaned while waiting for their orders.
Glass shakers filled with red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese have occupied the same spots on tables since the place opened. The menu, encased in clear plastic, features prices crossed out and updated by hand multiple times over the years.