- Rocco’s Pizza owner Monica Cione plans to use part of her profits to help stray animals find their new “furever” homes in the Bradley Beach, New Jersey area.
- Cione said she wanted to “do more and more [for animals] because they have no voice.”
Related: This pizzeria uses its pizza boxes to help stray dogs get adopted
Most people love their dogs. Monica Cione adores her rescue pup so much that she named her new pizzeria after him. She also has pledged a portion of her profits to local animal shelters that help other pets in need of a “furever” home.
Rocco’s Pizza opened on March 11 in Bradley Beach, New Jersey, and was overwhelmed with business that day, according to the company’s Facebook post on March 12. In addition to classic wood-fired red-sauce pies like the Capricciosa (ham, cherry tomatoes, olives, artichokes and cheese) and a signature white pie called the Rocco (mozzarella, Gorgonzola, walnuts, pears and speck), the menu includes the Nostromo (tuna, capers, onions and cheese), quinoa balls and Monica’s Meatballs. Calzones are also on the menu, along with baked Italian dinners, such as lasagna, ravioli and baked ziti.
Every item sold will help rescue animals, a cause near and dear to Cione’s heart. On Rocco’s website, she explains that Rocco was the name of her first dog, and her family’s current dog bears the same name. “I always tried to help any animal in distress since I was little,” she writes.
“I wanted to do more and more because they have no voice. So here we are. [Rocco’s] will help shelters and families that are willing to adopt animals and businesses that want to help pets. Part of our profit will be used to help the ones in need and also support those who are willing to add new fur members to their family. The more we sell, the more we help … You eat, and we give money for a purpose.”
Cione already has experience in classic Italian fare. She owns Cione Gelato in Cape May, New Jersey.
