Tony's Pizza, 3830 Neptune St

Tony's Pizza, 3830 Neptune St. Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection

3830 Neptune St, 2025. © Chip Weiner

Tony Farrina opened his Tony’s Pizza at 3830 Neptune Ave in 1965. If you look closely at the Gandy Photograph, you can see the water tower at Plant High School, which is still there today. Tony’s had a small dining room for eat-in service but also offered a drive-thru for pick-up. The spaghetti-to-go was a crowd favorite. It was located across Neptune Street from the popular Dale Mabry Center, which housed Publix, F.W. Woolworth, Tyree’s Appliances, and an S&H Green Stamp store. Tony baked his pies until 1969. In 1970, The Jolly Squire, a British-themed restaurant, took the spot.

The entire block has since been transformed into a strip shopping center featuring multiple businesses. Several tried and failed restaurant concepts have opened in the strip. One block north, Publix has taken over the entire plaza since it built a more modern store and shares it with its liquor store and Keke’s Breakfast restaurant.

Toastmaster Pizza Oven at Tony's Pizza. Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection

Dale Mabry Center 12-16-66. Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection