A family-run business is celebrating 50 years of selling “legendary” pizza across West Michigan.
Peppino’s Pizza has several sports grille and take-out locations across the state, including in Holland Township at 977 Butternut Drive — growing from a single shop that opened five decades ago to a multi-state operation today.
Peppino’s opened a first location in Standale in 1976, owned by Joe “Peppino” Adelfio and Carlo DiLeonardo. Five years later, DiLeonardo opened a second take-out location in Allendale, meant to serve the growing student population at Grand Valley State College (now GVSU).
Throughout the 1980s, DiLeonardo spent long hours managing both pizza shops. During that time, his son Joe became involved, folding pizza boxes and greeting customers.
By the 1990s, Adelfio had relocated to Sicily and sold the original location to Joe, who expanded the space to include a dining room and lunch buffet.
By the mid-2000s, the business had four take-out locations, and Joe had formed the entity that later became Peppino’s Hospitality Group. Soon after, the company introduced their first full-service restaurant in Allendale, launching the brand’s sports grille.
The next decade was filled with growth, as the family opened three more sports grilles and even more take-out locations, launched Maddalena’s Catering, opened Westside Social in Grand Rapids, and began operating Venue Bella Giornata in Byron Center.
After a recent purchase, Bunker Hill Chill and Grill in Dorr also falls under PHG.
Peppino’s remains a family affair for the DiLeonardos. Carlo has retired, but all of his children — Joe, Tricia, Toni, Francesca and Lino — are actively involved in ownership.
“I think our parents are just so proud to see that their kids, all five of their children, stayed with the legacy,” Francesca said. “Most of my siblings’ children also work for the company in one form or another, and for my parents, it’s so rewarding to see two generations continuing this out of passion and not obligation.”
The company has four sports grille locations in Grand Rapids, Allendale, Kentwood and Jenison, and nine pizzerias stretching from Holland to East Lansing to Pennsylvania, where there are two.
To maintain success and continued growth, the company’s food has remained consistent.
“They’re still the same recipes,” Toni said. “We’ve added a lot more to our menu, but the sauce recipe has stayed the same and so has how we make the dough. Everything is made in house, and our customers appreciate that.”
The family said strong customer support has allowed Peppino’s to reach 50 years.
“We’re definitely very grateful,” Toni said. “We have just incredible customers … it’s unbelievable.”
Learn more about celebratory events and promotions at peppinospizza.com.
— Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Peppino’s Pizza celebrates 50 years of pizza, family legacy
Reporting by Austin Metz, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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