Roma Pizza Crowned Champion of Ocean City’s Inaugural March Pizza Madness

 Ocean City is famous for its boardwalk slices and fierce culinary rivalries. A new king has been crowned. After weeks of head-to-head matchups and tens of thousands of fan votes, Roma Pizza has officially captured the title of the first annual March Pizza Madness champion.

While the trophy marks them as the best in the books, a visit to the shop reveals that Roma’s success isn’t just about the perfect sauce-to-cheese ratio; it’s about a bond that turns a small business into a lifelong family.

Owner Brad is the engine behind the operation, though his roots at Roma go back much further than his eight years of ownership. Starting at the shop as a 15-year-old employee, Brad cut his teeth at various pizzerias across South Jersey, from Glassboro to Avalon, before returning to purchase the place where it all began.

“I took the best from each one,” Brad says of his journey. “You tweak it to your own. It’s nice to have your own place where you can get everything right. I’m here seven days a week all summer long… every pizza goes through me.”

That dedication to consistency is what sets Roma apart. Brad handles the sauce and the dough personally, often starting at 8:00 AM and prepping until the early hours of the morning the next day. For Brad, the March Pizza Madness victory hit differently than past accolades from Yelp or regional “best-of” lists.

“This competition was really personal,” Brad shared. “I got to see the names of our customers every round. The comments… that was worth much more than the others. That’s what made it cool.”

For the staff, Roma isn’t just a place to earn a paycheck; it’s a sanctuary. Rachel, who has been at Roma for a decade (starting under the previous owner before spending the last eight years with Brad), spends her winters as a teacher in Paterson, New Jersey.

“This is truly the best job I’ve ever had,” Rachel says. “Working at Roma is like a vacation from my real job. We see families come back every year and see their kids grow up. It’s a connection.”

Hannah has also been with Brad since she was 15. Currently pursuing her master’s degree in speech pathology, she is excited about her professional future, but can’t imagine a life without Roma.

“We’re all best friends. We go out together in the winter,” Hannah explains. Both she and Rachel sing Brad’s praises not as a boss, but as a mentor. “Brad is like a second dad to me. He’s been there through some of the hardest parts of my life. I couldn’t imagine working for anybody else.”

The “family” atmosphere at Roma is an immediate feeling. When I went to drop off the championship award, it was my first time meeting Brad. I quickly got so caught up in the warmth of the shop and the conversation that Brad actually had to gently remind me that I had another appointment to get to.

Brad’s kindness, generosity, and genuine love for his craft shine through in every interaction. You see it in the quality of the crust, but more importantly, you see it in the smiles of his loyal employees and the unwavering devotion of the customers who voted them to the top.

To show their gratitude for the outpouring of support during the tournament, Roma is hosting a Special Customer Appreciation Day today, Friday, April 10th,  at the shop. It is a chance for the community to celebrate the win together with the crew. Today only, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Roma is offering $10 plain pies. The celebration kicks into high gear from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM with free slices available while supplies last (limited to one per customer). It’s Roma’s way of saying thank you for helping put them on top.

In Ocean City, you can find a lot of great pizza, but at Roma, you find a home.