Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Ronnie Celebre — the original owner of Celebre’s Pizzeria in Packer Park — invented the hyperlocal “Pizzaz” in the 1970s as a means of grilled cheese-ifying pizza, layering beefsteak tomatoes and a sprinkle of banana peppers atop slices of white American cheese.
“When people come in and ask about our best pizza and we say Pizzazz, they look at me and say, ‘American cheese? No, I don’t wanna try that,’” current owner Michael Spina told The Inquirer. “Afterwards, they say it’s one of the best pizzas they ever had.”
📝 by Beatrice Forman / Staff
📹 by Esra Erol / Staff
🌎 by Gabe Coffey / Staff
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Ronnie Celebre — the original owner of Celebre’s Pizzeria in Packer Park — invented the hyperlocal “Pizzaz” in the 1970s as a means of grilled cheese-ifying pizza, layering beefsteak tomatoes and a sprinkle of banana peppers atop slices of white American cheese.
“When people come in and ask about our best pizza and we say Pizzazz, they look at me and say, ‘American cheese? No, I don’t wanna try that,’” current owner Michael Spina told The Inquirer. “Afterwards, they say it’s one of the best pizzas they ever had.”
📝 by Beatrice Forman / Staff
📹 by Esra Erol / Staff
🌎 by Gabe Coffey / Staff
If you value this work, please consider subscribing to the Philadelphia Inquirer ►► inquirer.com/youtube
More from Philadelphia Inquirer Video:
Watch all of our videos here: inquirer.com/video
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philadelphia...
Instagram: instagram.com/phillyinquirer
