Pica's Restaurant in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania closing this summer, owners confirm
Known for its tray pizza and Italian specialties for generations, Pica's Restaurant on West Chester Pike in Upper Darby announced the closing of the establishment in a post on Facebook.
"As we prepare to close our doors, we want to express our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support and loyalty throughout the years," the post said.
The restaurant has been an Upper Darby mainstay for 70 years. Customers sought out Pica's signature upside-down, cheese-on-the-bottom sauce-on-top trays of pizza.
The family, in its post, said the restaurant will close sometime in the summer. They plan to open a new, smaller location somewhere in Delaware County.
Angela Pica Oandasan and Frank Pica, the owners of the restaurant, said the rumors of the location closing got harder and harder to contain. They both said the decision to close the Upper Darby location was "difficult."
"This was a decision we didn't take lightly," Frank Picca said. "And it was a couple of years in the making."
The business started as a small sandwich shop in West Philadelphia in 1941. The family operates a second restaurant in West Chester.
"I don't know when my grandfather started his place in West Philadelphia that he dreamt of all of this," Angela Pica said. "We are honored to walk in their shadow and take on their tradition."
"It's like family"
The restaurant business is notoriously tough, and customers were stunned by the news of Pica's closing.
Retired Upper Darby Fire Chief Ken Bullwinkle has been a regular at the store.
"It's like family," Bullwinkle said. "Everybody comes up here."
"They have the best square pizza," he added.
Deborah Exton and her family were at Pica's for a celebration of life, but instead, they were caught off-guard by the sad news — the closing of another chapter.
"It's just devastating," Bachor said. "I can believe it. I think I'm a little in shock — I thought it would always be here. This place is so full of memories."
Gary Jamgochian has had a hand in Pica's Pizza for 50 years as an employee.
"All these years," Jamgochian said. "Stuck with the whole family. Love them all. Great family."
Tina Fey's favorite pizza joint to close
Upper Darby native Tina Fey had a viral appearance on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" several years ago where Fallon surprised Fey with a few slices of their signature pie.
A photo of the 2014 appearance is still the restaurant's cover photo on Facebook.
"This pizza is the best," Fey said when Fallon surprised her. "Your sauce, your gravy is on the top."
