Our Story Starts in Jersey…
…Toms River to be exact.
Growing up in the middle of Philly and NYC, you learn a thing or two about pizza.
Travis Kaiser, Owner/Operator of Santoro’s, couldn’t remember a time where he didn’t spend his summer vacation working in a pizzeria during his childhood. Growing up in Toms River, NJ, the pizza culture was rich. You’re within an hour drive of NYC, Philly, and the Jersey Shore Boardwalk- some of the best pizza in the world. With all the different takes and styles of pizza coming together in Central Jersey, a new type of pizza was coined: Jersey Style Pizza.
After graduating from the University of Tampa in ‘07, Kaiser went back to New Jersey to become a police officer at Seaside Heights. After about 2 years and few brush ups with Snooki later (check out the police officer on the left), Kaiser moved back to Tampa in hopes of becoming a restaurateur and immersing himself in the blooming hospitality industry Tampa had to offer.
A Wife, 2 Kids, and 15 Years of Restaurant Management Experience Later, He Decided It Was Time to Make His Dreams Reality.
The Kaiser’s saw an opportunity right down the street from their alma matter and invested in something they believed in. Santoro’s, named after the Kaiser’s first born son, can be described as an authentic Italian American Pizzeria with influence from Naples and Sicily. “I wanted the pizzeria to look like it was picked up from Jersey and placed in the heart of Tampa” says Kaiser, and if you have ever been to New Jersey, it’s just that.
We are so thankful for the warm welcome and support that the Tampa Bay Community has given us. We pride ourselves on our three pillars: Premier food quality, unmatched hospitality, and optimum branding. We are extremely grateful that the community has responded so well, and we can’t wait to continue to get involved as much as we can. All we’re missing is a second location for our second child Giancarlo! (Which could be coming sooner rather than later)
We want to bring the authentic Jersey Slice I grew up with to Florida
— Travis Kaiser, Owner/Operator