Media About Pepicelli's

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Pepicelli’s Pizza is proud to announce they have been declared Hanover's Best Pizza for the 6th Year in a row.

Pepicelli’s Pizza is holding a fundraiser for Henry Clay and Gandy Elementary Schools on January 23, 2013 from 4 - 8 p.m. Please come out and support these great schools. They will donate 20% of sales to the schools.

CJ's Thumbs Up Foundation - Board Member Spotlight: Tom Checkosky. Co-Owner of Pepicelli’s Pizza Ashland

Board member since: January 2012

Tom and Lisa Checkosky
“I don’t believe in coincidences.” Tom Checkosky will be the first person to tell you that he’s here (meaning Ashland) “by the grace of whatever it is you want to call God.” Checkosky used to be operational partner for 7 Domino’s Pizza restaurants in Western Pennsylvania. He started out as driver, became manager, worked his way up the ladder, and then left.

Before the recession hit, he was a regional manager of Best Buy for three days until the economy made them cancel plans for 10 new stores.

Then, after almost two years out of the food sector, he went into a local Pizza Pan restaurant to pick up an order and then proceeded to reconfigure the entire kitchen for the owners who seemed to be having “organizational issues.” This lit the fire within Tom to get back into the pizza business.

Pepi seriously enjoys summer!
After an exhaustive search, Tom stumbled onto a pizza place for sale in Ashland, Virginia. The landlord gave him a great deal on rent and even paid to move his store when Smokey Pig Catering left the space next to Ashland Ace Hardware. Other local residents wowed Tom with kindness, dinner, and good advice. "I'm from up north. I'm not used to people being nice to me without there being some kind of ulterior motive. I was sold."

And so Pepicelli’s Pizza of Ashland was established. This was in 2007 and they are about to celebrate their 5th year in business.

Tom with Jimmy and Ani
Tom brought down his wife, Lisa, and two kids, Jimmy and Ani and they've been here ever since (EVERYONE helps at the store when necessary).

"Something always seems to happen every couple of years or so to make us move or whatever. We've been in Ashland five years and it hasn't happened yet. I'm convinced that we're supposed to be here."

The Checkoskys (and Pepicelli's Pizza) are active throughout the Ashland community via MAP, the Ashland Street Parties, and several other activities.

Through a strange series of “non-coincidences,” the Checkoskys became aware of CJ’sThumbs Up Foundation and were touched by the Reynolds’ story. Tom was so moved that he decided to do everything he could to help make CJSTUF successful and even quit smoking as a result of his involvement with the Foundation.

Pepicelli’s Pizza donates meals to The Lunch Bunch (A joint effort between CJSTUF and Conner's Heroes Foundation to feed the families on the 7th floor of Children’s Hospital of Richmond) and was the Business Of The Month in May of 2011. They will be the BOTM again in September, donating a portion of the month’s sales to CJSTUF. On Monday, September 24th, CJSTUF co-founder Roger Reynolds will be delivering pizzas to Pepicelli's customers who add a small donation to their order.

Tom has dived into his CJSTUF participation with both feet and has become one of our most enthusiastic supporters.

Which is why we wanted to know the answers to:

4 and 1/2 Questions!!!

1) How often do you eat pizza made by another pizza place?

Answer: “Only on vacation and only mom and pop places. Leonardo’s Pizza in the Outer Banks is a particular favorite as well as Causeway Pizza in Garden City Beach, NC.

2) Can you describe an atom? (I stole this from a website on interview questions)

Answer: “He’s the husband of Eve.”

(smart aleck)

3) How much taller than you is your wife, Lisa?

Answer: “5 inches.”

4) What animal, that you don't currently have, do you want most of all right now?

Answer: “I want either a big bird like an African Grey or a Cockatoo or a big dog (even though I already have two of each).”

Pepicelli’s Supports Their Community

Tom and Lisa Checkosky are not just your average business owners. “We have a strong need to connect with our community,” remarks Tom. “It doesn’t feel right unless we are also giving back.” Since launching their business in Hanover County in 2007, the Checkoskys have been active members of the Ashland community. They have supported fundraising events through Ashland Little League, Randolph-Macon College, and, most recently, CJ’s Thumbs Up Foundation (CJSTUF).

Tom and Lisa met CJSTUF founders Roger and Rachel Reynolds through a variety of community events. Once they learned about the origins and mission of the organization, Tom and Lisa were hooked. The mission of CJSTUF is to provide financial assistance to families of children who are in and out of the hospital frequently, managing chronic and life threatening illnesses. “I think our partnership officially began when we asked Pepicelli’s to be our business of the month in 2011,” said director of development and co-founder Roger Reynolds. “From that point forward, Tom was constantly looking for more ways to get involved.”

Since serving as the business of the month in May 2011, Tom has since joined the board of CJ’s Thumbs Up Foundation. Pepicelli’s displays a donation jar for the organization prominently on the counter at the restaurant and recently raised over $65 in two months as part of CJSTUF’s Thumbs Up Campaign. They also sponsored the organization’s family fundraiser, The Thumbs Up Ball, by providing pizza and subs for the event.

Not to be outdone, Tom’s wife Lisa got in on the fundraising efforts in early 2012. She decided to run her first 10K and elected to raise money for “Team CJ” as part of her training efforts. By petitioning friends and family, Lisa raised almost $700 as she ran the Monument Avenue 10K in Richmond on March 31.

The next time you bite into a slice of Hanover’s Best Pizza, you can be certain that you are not only enjoying a fine meal, you are helping the folks at Pepicelli’s as they give back to their community.

Pepicelli’s: Hanover County’s Best Pizza Since 2008. - 6 years in a row

Once again, readers of the Hanover Herald Progress have selected Pepicelli’s as Hanover’s Best Pizza. This honor has been granted to owners Tom and Lisa Checkosky every year since 2008.

Tom and Lisa opened Pepicelli’s in Ashland in 2007. Although Tom has been making pizzas for over twenty years, the Checkoskys only recently relocated to Hanover County, arriving in Virginia from Pennsylvania. “I grew up in New York and New Jersey making pizza,” says Tom. “My lifelong dream was to own a restaurant of my own. We were living in Pennsylvania and we had been scouting locations in Virginia for almost two years. When I happened upon Ashland, I just knew this was where we belonged.”

Tom’s formula for fabulous pizza is simple. He uses fresh ingredients and homemade sauces on every pie. The dough is also made fresh each day. Customers can order a variety of toppings with specialty pizzas like barbecue chicken, garden veggie, or the Barnyard Zeus - a white pizza with vegetables and chicken.

In addition to pizza, Pepicelli’s offers a variety of hot and cold subs and Italian style dishes such as spaghetti, baked ziti, and delectable cannoli. “We get requests for catering all the time,” remarks co-owner Lisa Checkosky. “We can put together meals for any appetite and budget. Just let us know what you need and we can do all the work.”

Not only does Pepicelli’s take pride in the great variety of their menu and the quality of their food, they also are proud supporters of the Ashland community. Since starting their business, they have lent their food services and expertise to organizations such as the Market Ashland Partnership, Ashland Little League, organizations at Randolph-Macon College, and CJ’s Thumbs Up Foundation. “I may not be from Ashland,” says Tom, “but I’m proud to call it home. We are grateful to the Hanover community for their business and their support.”

Pepicelli's Pizza is Proud to Announce...... We have been named Hanover's Best Pizza for the 6th Year in a row. Thank you to everyone who has helped us achieve this award.

Pepicelli's Pizza was the Ashland Police Department's Business of the Year for 2010.

Testimonials About Us!


Mr. Brent Fleenor tells it how it is!

My younger daughter and I both need to eat gluten-free food, and we LOVED the Pepicelli's gluten-free crust pizza. It tastes good, has a nice crispness and flavor to it that is remarkable for gluten-free! The customer service at Pepicelli's is fabulous. Tom explained to me over the phone about his recipe and preparation, and Lisa was great at the counter. We will definitely be coming back -- this is our new favorite pizza place!
Gwen- Ashland

Had their pizza and wings tonight.. YUMMY!
Margaret Bateman Broache

All I can say is "ITS AWESOME!" Will never be happy with chain store pizza again!
Lisa Phillips Chieppo

Found awesome wings and Philly steak and the staff was Carolina Cool.
Zack Moore

Excellent food last night and service.
Todd Sheridan

Pepicellis has the best pizza in Ashland! I tried the fries, mac & cheese bites and the broccoli & cheese nuggets and I could not have been happier. So far what I have gotten at Pepis have gone beyond my expectations. What makes this establishment even better is that they support Randolph-Macon College any chance they get! Pepicellis is one of the greatest places to eat in Ashland!
Marlana R. Cirillo - Randolph-Macon College '14

Let me tell you, we moved into town in fall of 2011. While still moving in, we went searching for ANYONE that would deliver, as our dishes were not even unpacked. Pepicelli’s was our first call in town. They delivered hot and fresh and delicious. We have had at least half a dozen deliveries and we have been to dine in a few times as well. The dough is homemade, and the cheese is fresh. The tomato sauce is ONLY cooked in the oven, not on the stove. The desserts are delicious. We have tried other pizza in town, only to come running back to Pepicelli’s. It’s delicious and the owners do a lot for the community of Ashland. Carry your hard earned dollars in here if you are looking for a good, yummy pizza or pepi-wich! A sandwich made of pizza dough. Who woulda thought THAT??!! Certainly nowhere else but Pepicelli’s!
Page Brothers

I came here with my family after a long day at King's Dominion and knew instantly we picked the right place. From the restaurants friendly atmosphere to its cleanliness, Pipicelli's is an inviting place even from the outside. The pizza was fantastic, and the "Diablo" sauce was phenomenal. Hands down, the best buffalo chicken pizza I've ever had. I'll be bringing my friends back soon!
Nick Midgett

I've lived around Ashland most of my life & Anthony's was the place for subs and pizza. Not anymore, sorry Anthony's I'm a Pepicelli's fan now. My new favorite place to eat in Ashland.
Jeremy Adams

SIMPLY....the best! Try Pepicell's and you'll find out why!
Brent Fleenor

Thanks so much for the pizza. It was very good. My wife and I enjoyed it.
In Christ,
Father Nicodemos

Voted Hanover 's best!!! Great pizza!!!
Hampton Richmond North-Ashland

We just love ordering from Pepichelli's. Whether it is subs, pizza, or salads we always have a smile on our face after our meal. The quality of the food tastes so good that if we have not ordered in about a week we all start to "crave" Pepi's. Thank you for providing Ashland with amazing restaurant and outstanding food!
Salon Atlantis