One of the Garden State’s best pizzerias is gearing up to open new location at the Jersey Shore.
Brooklyn Square Pizza, the beloved shop with locations in Jackson, Manalapan and Toms River, is now expanding to Bradley Beach, owner Pietro “Peter” Grippo told NJ Advance Media.
The pizzeria will open in the space that formerly hosted Rocco’s Pizza on Main Street, and will be what Grippo refers to as an “express” location. Grippo said he has partnered with the former Rocco’s owners on the new venture.
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The Bradley Beach spot will feature a reduced version of Brooklyn Square’s full menu including pizza, wraps, sandwiches and salads for takeout and delivery only.
Brooklyn Square’s Jersey Shore location is expected to open in the next few weeks although an exact date has yet to be determined.
“We’re doing like an express spot with a downsized menu and no dine-in but we’re going to be offering beach delivery, expand the delivery zone to go into surrounding towns through the (delivery) apps and everything,” Grippo said.
Grippo, 52, opened Brooklyn Square in Jackson back in 2013 after spending years commuting from his home in Jackson to Brooklyn where he ran Pete’s Pizza. Grippo opened locations in Manalapan in 2017 and Toms River in 2018.
Brooklyn Square has seen much success since its inception— winning N.J.’s best pizzeria showdown in 2017; being named the best pizzeria in the state by Reader’s Digest in 2023; and landing the No. 7 spot on NJ.com’s latest ranking of New Jersey’s 101 greatest pizzas.
Meanwhile, Bradley Beach is quickly becoming one of the state’s hottest foodie destinations with restaurants like Bamboo Leaf Thai Eatery and Vic’s Italian-American Restaurant leading the charge.
Spots like Hatch 44 Cafe, The Elbow Room and Skratch Kitchen have bolstered the shore town’s food portfolio with openings in the past several years. Another Ocean County favorite, Xina, is also planned to open in Bradley Beach soon.
“Bradley Beach is a beautiful, quaint area,” Grippo said. “I really like that town and I hope people welcome us with open arms.”
Grippo, who’s been in the pizza business since 1982, said it “preoccupies his mind and helps him.”
Grippo is battling Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and co-founded the Dream Catchers Youth Foundation in 2024.
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