Papa’s Tomato Pies was established by Giuseppe “Joe” Papa in 1912 on South Clinton Avenue in Trenton and a few years later, moved to Butler Street. Two years later, at 17 he opened Papa’s Tomato Pies in April of 1912. He was making dough by hand long before machines and cooking in coal fired ovens. He peeled and cooked tomatoes, used olive oil and fresh cut mozzarella. His wife, Adalene, made meatball and sauce and helped prepare in the kitchen.
In 1945, the restaurant moved to Chambers Street and then, in 2013, moved again to Robbinsville-Allentown Road in Robbinsville, New Jersey. Papa learned the trade from Joe’s Tomato Pies, which opened in 1910, before opening his own restaurant. Joe’s closed in the late 1980s.
Joe Papa’s daughter, Teresa “Tessie” Papa and her husband Dominik “Abie” Azzaro eventually took over operations in the 1960s. During the 1950s and 60s Papa’s would remain open until 3 am serving late workers and patrons who just left local bars.
Papa’s is currently operated by Joe Papa’s grandson, Nick Azzaro, a third-generation Italian-American. Azzaro has been making pizza for over fifty years and has worked for Papa’s since he was 14.
According to en.wikipedia.org. Source of photos: internet
