In 1947 Carmen Gervasio opened up his first pizzeria with his brother Frank and a friend in Bristol PA. Drafted into the army 1951 Carmen sold his share of the pizzeria and went off to serve his country in the Korean War. Upon his honorable discharge from the US Army in 1953 Carmen, married and supported his family working as both a steelworker and a pizza maker.( pizzaiolo) at Marucas Tomato Pie
s in Trenton, NJ. Seventeen years later In 1970 Carmen opened his second pizzeria on Neshaminy Blvd in Bensalem PA. he taught the pizza business to his three sons, and handed down to them a recipe for pizza dough that his uncle Pasquale gave to him in 1947. Carmens uncle Pasquale was the founder of Italian Peoples Bakery in Trenton NJ. Through the years Carmen’s three sons developed, owned and operated several pizzeria restaurants in Bensalem, Levittown, Langhorne, Stone Harbor NJ, Avalon NJ and Virginia Beach VA. Alex left the pizza business in 2001 to venture into the corporate world but this did not satisfy, his passion was for making pizza and he was insistently urged by his beautiful daughter Maria to return to pizza making, Maria constantly told him
"Daddy You make the Best Pizza you should open up another pizzeria the people just have to have your Pizza"
shortly after she said this to her dad Maria tragically was lost in a terrible car accident. Alex's spirit was crushed, in losing his precious and beautiful daughter but found new purpose in fulfilling Marias request to open up a pizzeria and so Bella Maria Tomato Pies was founded in loving tribute to Beautiful Maria. Alex has over 47 years of experience and expertise in the pizza restaurant business and has a true family pedigree in the pizza business, both sides of his family were bakers who emigrated from Naples and Calabria, Italy in the 1920''s Pizza is literally a part of the family DNA his paternal grandmothers name Rafaella Pizza, and using a dough crust recipe that has been considered a family heirloom used for the past 70 years. Alex now has his own two sons working with him and learning the craft. Bella Maria Tomato Pies offers a comfortable, friendly ambiance in house while also providing a fast delivery service from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. The menu features Pizza,Tomato Pies, Sandwiches, Pastas, Fresh Salads and Italian Specialties. The pizza dough and all sauces are made fresh everyday on site. In 2017 it is hard to find an authentic Italian maestro pizzaiolo who is dedicated to the craft of expert pizza making which is in fact an art form, Alex says "This is not a "Slap n Go pie " "each of our pizzas are crafted with expertise and especially with Love. Bella Maria Tomato Pies is more than just another pizza shop it is a Labor of Tribute, Dedication and Love, .
