FOOD NEWS
The Family-Owned South Carolina Restaurant That Started During World War II
BY Marina S.
Given the numerous modern-day challenges, it's a miracle when a restaurant stays open beyond the first few years. One such "miracle" restaurant is Villa Tronco.
The family-owned restaurant has operated in Columbia, South Carolina, for over 80 years and is known for its Italian American flair with dishes like Mama Tronco's homemade pizza.
James Tronco met his future wife, Sadie, in her father's fruit store in 1918. The two were married, had four children, and opened their own fruit store, followed by another.
The business changed during World War II. Sadie, aka Mama Tronco, began making spaghetti and meatballs for the soldiers of Italian descent stationed at the nearby Fort Jackson.
According to Villa Tronco, Mama Tronco used to give away pizza for free because the residents of post-war Columbia, South Carolina, had never seen or heard of the exotic dish.
The restaurant's menu claims, "Mama Tronco introduced pizza to Columbia." Villa Tronco is Columbia's oldest restaurant and is filled with live music and decades-old family recipes.