Anthony
Berghela
While growing up in upstate New York, Delmar, and Watervliet becoming a pizzaiolo was the furthest thing from Anthony’s mind. Like many other kids, becoming a famous athlete was where his dreams were. He was an all around athlete excelling in Basketball, Baseball and Football. He played 2 years of basketball during his college years.
After college, unsure of the career path he wanted to pursue, Anthony worked various jobs. It was at a bakery job where he began to enjoy the food and baking business. He remember visiting his uncles at a local pizzeria where they worked. It was at that point where he began to look to open his own pizzeria.
Anthony heard of a struggling pizzeria that was looking to sell, but with no experience in the pizza industry he turned to his uncles for help. He purchased the pizzeria and after changing the name and look, Romo’s Pizza was born. It was not evident at the start, but but taking over a struggling pizzeria turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It allowed Anthony to perfect his art while not hurting the business or its reputation. Always trying to better himself and the business, Anthony stayed up late watching videos and reading books of well known pizza makers trying to learn new techniques and recipes to improve his business. Anthony worked most days alone during the early stages. Many times he questioned whether he made the right decision to buy the pizzeria. To improve business and get the word out about the pizzeria, he reached out to coaches and local sports teams offering discounts to use his pizza at sporting events. With the hard work, consistency, and word of mouth Romo’s began to create a name for itself throughout the town.
As the business grew, working alone was no longer an option. Anthony turned to his fiancé, brother, sisters, and mother for help. After 2 years the business had outgrown its current space prompting a move to a store location in the plaza. Romo’s became a household name in the community and the go to spot for many families in the area.
Never ceasing his quest to improve, Anthony made his first trip to Las Vegas for the Pizza Expo. There he took many classes, sat in on many discussions, and his passion for the business grew even more. After meeting Tony Gemigniani at the Pizza Expo, in 2015 Anthony decided to head to San Francisco and attend the International School of Pizza. While working with Tony at the school, Anthony saw multiple styles of pizza, different doughs, sauces, and ovens. Anthony had a vision to bring these new ideas back to his home town. With continued mentoring from Tony, he began to work and perfect the new styles of pizzas he had learned.
Coming back home, Anthony decided to take a big jump and open a full service pizzeria in a space in his plaza that had been vacant for some time. With his fresh new ideas and the continued support of his community, Romo’s open the doors to its new restaurant in January of 2016 . The new restaurant offered many styles of pizza, from deep dish to Neapolitan, and many new menu items.
Since opening in 2009, Romo’s Pizza has been nominated or has won “ Best Pizza “ in many local papers and social media outlets.
In 2018 Anthony jumped into the competition world of pizza making, competing in Las Vegas and Atlantic City at the Caputo Cup where he has finished in the top 10 each time. He will also he traveling to Italy and competing internationally for the first time.
Anthony is grateful to his family and friends who have helped him get to where he is today. They have been there for him not only in business, but in life as well. The friendships he has made in the community and in the pizza industry continue to drive him to keep improving and evolving as a pizza maker.
While pizza has been Anthony’s passion, his greatest love is being the father of his two beautiful daughters Gracelyn Faith and Antonia Marie.
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