CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Alan Harwell takes a look at Corpus Christi’s longest-running family-operated pizza restaurant. They are still here for a very good reason.
I have to tell you this is a terrific assignment. Corpus Christi is the home many, many great pizza places.
Many are family-run business. Just like Panjos Pizza on Airline, who have been open since 1964 as the city’s longest running pizza restaurant. An incredibly popular place and one of the reasons is, let’s go inside and I’ll show you.
And here’s what I’m talking about. Their secret is the crust. It’s unbelievable.
“For about 50 years now we have been doing the exact same thing,” said Katlyn Garrett, the store’s manager. “Every day we come in and we make the dough fresh. We put it in our walk-in refrigerator and then it rises over night. I can’t tell what exactly what we put in the ingredients not to give away any secrets.”
One of the reasons the pizzas have tasted the same for so many years is because they have been cooking in the very same ovens since 1964. That’s 56 years. What makes these ovens so unique?
“It’s the flavor they have acquired over the years,” she said. “They have actually collected everything that has spilled over. The sauces, cheeses and toppings have settled in and the cornmeal that sticks to it.”
So far, business remains steady thanks to their carry out and delivery service.
“When they see that we are still open and we’re still trying that makes them want to help us,” Garrett said. “And we want to help them and if they need us for anything or their kids need us we will definitely be there, also.”
