WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. – A popular and longstanding destination for pizza, calzones and other Italian favorites is bidding farewell in Lehigh County.
Palace Pizza Bar & Grill, a family-run pizzeria and bar, is set to close on Friday, July 10, at 3690 Lehigh St. in Whitehall Township.
The business, located in the MacArthur Center, has been a Whitehall staple for more than four decades, opening in August 1985 under late founders Dominick Galluzzo Sr. and Josephine Galluzzo.
Palace Pizza Bar & Grill, a family-run pizzeria and bar, operates at 3690 Lehigh St. in Whitehall Township.
Ryan Kneller
Today, the restaurant remains a family-run establishment with two of the Galluzzos’ children, Rosie Derkits and Vincent Galluzzo, heading operations.
Several other family members, including Derkits’ husband, Tony Derkits, and Vincent’s wife, Tara Galluzzo, also assist with operations.
“Vincent is my older brother, and my younger brother, Dominic Galluzzo Jr., also helps out occasionally,” Rosie said.
“We were all raised in this place and have so many great memories. I started working here when I was 12, and I’ll be 41 soon. Now, my two older boys work here. So, they’ve been getting the same experience.”
In closing Palace Pizza, the family is looking for a “fresh start,” Rosie said.
Sales and foot traffic remain high at the pizzeria, but deaths in the family and other trying times over the past few years have taken their toll.
Palace Pizza Bar & Grill, a family-run pizzeria and bar, operates at 3690 Lehigh St. in Whitehall Township.
Ryan Kneller
“It’s just the end of an era for us,” Rosie said.
“We tried to keep it going for as long as we could, but we’ve all been through a lot over the past five years – losing my dad five years ago and then my mom a year ago. Business has been great, and it has nothing do with financial reasons. It’s just a lot to handle overall, and we’re ready to move on. My family and I are actually moving to South Carolina later this summer. So, it’ll be a fresh start, for sure.”
Palace Pizza has become a community hallmark thanks to its welcoming atmosphere and wide assortment of fresh eats, including gourmet pizzas such as baked ziti, Hawaiian, taco (beef or chicken), chicken bacon ranch, white (ricotta and mozzarella) and fresh tomato, basil and garlic.
There are also stuffed pizzas such as pierogi stuffed, stromboli stuffed and bacon cheeseburger stuffed.
Popular pizza picks include a signature “Palace Delight” (garlic white sauce with grilled chicken, tomato, onion, bacon, mozzarella and cheddar cheese) and “Dominator” (ham, beef, sausage, pepperoni, salami, hot chicken, honey mustard, mozzarella and cheddar cheese).
Palace Pizza Bar & Grill, a family-run pizzeria and bar, operates at 3690 Lehigh St. in Whitehall Township.
Ryan Kneller
“The Palace Delight and Dominator were both created by my dad,” Rosie said.
Other menu highlights include a wide assortment of starters, salads, calzones, stromboli, club sandwiches, wraps, paninis, burgers, steak sandwiches, cold subs, hot subs and wings.
The restaurant features two sections – one area with an ordering/pick-up counter and a few dining booths; and another section with a full bar and additional seating at booths and low-and high-top tables.
Online ordering, takeout and delivery are available.
Hours for the rest of the week are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday and Friday.
Palace Pizza Bar & Grill, a family-run pizzeria and bar, operates at 3690 Lehigh St. in Whitehall Township.
Ryan Kneller
The family is thankful for the community’s support over the decades, and Rosie posted a message of appreciation – addressed to “our Palace Pizza Family and our loyal valued customers” on her personal Facebook page:
“After 41 incredible years, the time has come for our family to close this chapter of our journey. While it’s bittersweet to say goodbye, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for the incredible community that has supported us for over four decades.
When our parents first opened these doors, they hoped to serve great food and build a business we could be proud of. What we didn’t realize was that we would be welcomed into your lives, your families, and your weekly traditions. To everyone who has walked through our doors: thank you. Thank you for choosing us to celebrate your milestones, for sharing your Friday nights with us, and for making our shop a place of warmth, laughter, and connection. You have seen our family grow, and we have had the honor of watching yours grow, too. Behind every order, every recipe, and every daily rush was a labor of love, and we could not have done it without your unwavering loyalty. You turned a small family business into a true community staple, and for that, we are forever grateful.
As we look forward to a fresh start and the next chapter for our family, we take with us a lifetime of beautiful memories, deep friendships, and a profound appreciation for each and every one of you.
Thank you for 41 unforgettable years. You will always hold a special place in our hearts.”