Tonelli's Pizza Pub Celebrates 30 Years In Horsham

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —Like many businesses in Montgomery County and throughout the region, Tonelli's Pizza Pub struggled through the pandemic.

But that was nothing for what owner Chip Randa went through nearly a decade earlier.

In 2013, Randa got word that he was dying of cancer. He was also going through a divorce. And a business deal went sour.

“I was hit physically, emotionally, and financially all at once," Randa told Patch. "It was insane. I had four young kids."

These days, things are faring much better.

Tonelli's Pizza Pub is marking a milestone, celebrating its 30th anniversary this month.

Throughout the month, Tonelli’s is discounting its menu by 20 percent off for pickup, dine-in, and delivery. The $3 delivery fee is also being dropped.

"My staff came to me and said we had to really do something big to help people out,” Randa said as people's wallets continue to get pinched by inflation. "Not a day goes by that customers don’t complain about prices at the pump, the grocery store, and at restaurants. Inflation is just crushing everyone.”

Tonelli’s opened in Horsham in 1993.

Its mission was to sell the best pizza, wings, cheesesteaks, and hoagies "in the universe," Randa said.

But the business also wanted to cater to the community.

Tonelli's supports youth athletics and also participates in Horsham Township's Restaurant Week, which recently concluded.

Randa has donated more than $789,000 toward youth athletics from elementary through high school. He's also personally coached more than 375 boys and girls in soccer, baseball, and basketball.

When Everyone’s Playground was built, Tonelli’s donated $10,000 worth of trees that were planted around the playground for shade. To date, they estimate that they have given away more than 25,000 pizzas to people in need, and various fundraisers over the years.

Getting back to 2013, Randa said doctors had given him six months to live. He traveled to the Philippines and Mexico trying alternative treatments to stay alive.

While the treatments bought him some time, Randa returned to the University of Pennsylvania's oncology department to finish treatments.

After a 10-year battle with cancer, Randa received a stem cell transplant using his brother as a donor. His cancer has been in remission ever since.

Through all that, Tonelli's never closed for one day, Randa said.

His personal life also improved too.

Randa got remarried on July 23. He now lives in Hatboro with his wife and seven kids. He said all are in the Harboro-Horsham School District with one expected to graduate every year for the next four years.