WILDWOOD, N.J. – The smell of melted cheese and bubbling tomato sauce filled the February air Friday morning as hundreds of eager customers lined up outside Sam’s Pizza Palace, marking the start of its 70th season on the Wildwood boardwalk.
With a line stretching past 26th Street, the beloved shore institution served up its first thin-crust pies of the year to cheers from loyal fans who have been counting down since the end of last summer.
The family-owned pizzeria, founded by Sam Sperra in 1957, has become a Jersey Shore legend — famous for its crispy, boardwalk-style pizza with its trademark concentric rings of sauce. Each year, the opening weekend draws both locals and tourists who view it as an unofficial start to the Wildwood season, even in the middle of winter.
“Thank you to all of our loyal customers for coming out to support our reopening on this cold Valentine’s Day Weekend! We look forward to our 63rd summer on the Wildwood Boardwalk,” the business posted online. “And to our employees, Tony and Anthony would like to thank you for being the hardest-working kids on the island! We truly could not have done it without you, it was a well-oiled machine!”
Sam’s will be open this Presidents’ Day weekend, with special hours running Friday through Monday. The team, now led by second-generation family members, says the milestone 70th season is both a celebration of tradition and a tribute to the generations of customers who’ve made Sam’s part of their shore memories.
Boardwalk tradition with staying power
Over the decades, Sam’s Pizza Palace has remained largely unchanged — from its tiled floors to its no-frills, fast-moving counter service. That simplicity, fans say, is what makes it timeless. The iconic pies, cut into crisp squares and served on paper plates, haven’t deviated from the original recipe that’s kept the crowds coming back for seven decades.
For many visitors, the return of Sam’s signals more than just pizza — it marks the start of another season at the Jersey Shore, where nostalgia and tradition meet the salty air.
- Sam’s Pizza Palace opens its 70th season this Presidents’ Day weekend
- The Wildwood landmark has served thin-crust boardwalk pizza since 1957
- The opening weekend drew crowds eager to relive a Jersey Shore tradition
Looking ahead to summer
With summer just months away, business owners across the boardwalk see Sam’s early opening as a positive sign for the season ahead. As the first major food stop to reopen for the year, the crowds it draws often hint at what’s to come for the rest of the shore economy.
For now, though, it’s all about that first hot slice — and the start of another year of seaside memories at one of Wildwood’s most cherished spots.
wildwood boardwalk, Sam’s Pizza Palace, Jersey Shore pizza
