This article appeared in the June 25th Issue of TV Times
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By David Maull
TV Times

Steve Janson has been around pizza kitchens almost since he was old enough to walk.

His father established Ponzetti's restaurant in 1962 and Janson was one of many family members who helped turn the business into an Ocean City institution.

"Ever since I was a kid, I've been making pizzas," said Janson, who now runs the business along with his brothers. "It's been an adventure."

Located at 144th Street in Ocean City, Ponzetti's is still going strong in its 36th year in the resort.

"We're very well known," Janson said. "We've earned that right, too."

But that hasn't kept the Janson brothers from putting their own twist on a successful formula.

New to the restaurant this summer is a video arcade and fun center.

"Our business is mostly families and we want to cater to families," Steve said. "It compliments the restaurant."

Janson mulled over the arcade idea for a number of years but was finally able to follow through when store space next to the restaurant became available after last summer.

He noted kids can now play games while their parents sit in the dining room. The fun center also contains a snack bar.

"It's a good trend in the family restaurant/pizza business," Janson said. "We're the only pizza place in Ocean City that offers this."

He also hopes the new attraction will bring in some of the movie crowd from the Sun and Surf Cinema across the street.

On the restaurant side, Ponzetti's serves pizza, subs, sandwiches and Italian entrees such as veal and chicken parmesan, lasagna, spaghetti and baked ziti.

But the menu items that have taken off in recent years are specialty pizzas, which offer unusual toppings such as barbecued chicken, crushed pineapple, smoked ham, broccoli and cauliflower.

"It's more of a gourmet-type pizza," Janson said. "They've become really popular. They've been doing well ever since we've offered them.

Ponzetti's began serving specialty pizzas three years ago and offers six different selections. One of those is white pizza, which is a blend of cheese, garlic and red onion with no sauce.

"It used to be people wanted just pepperoni or pepperoni and mushroom," Janson said. "I think people are now used to having different things on pizza."

Ponzetti's also has a "take and bake" deal in which customers can buy half-baked pizzas and finish cooking them at home. Janson noted some freeze the pizzas or take them home to Baltimore or Washington.

'We've always offered that," he said.

For those wanting to dine in, Ponzetti's has a full selection of beer and wine and a large television.

Ponzetti's also has a second location on Route 13 and Naylor Street in Salisbury.