Willow Street Pizza will commemorate their 30th anniversary on Wednesday, November 8 at both locations in Los Gatos (20 S Santa Cruz Ave) and Willow Glen (1072 Willow Street) by offering 30 percent off the entire menu all-day. Additionally, at the Los Gatos location, Willow Street Pizza will be hosting a community focused party where guests can enjoy live music from “The Joint Chiefs” and other festivities.
For the past 30 years Willow Street Pizza has established itself in the greater San Jose community and, in conjunction with this milestone anniversary, has announced the appointment of a new Executive Chef and Partner Hisham Abdelfattah. The chef and experienced restaurant operator, with more than 18 years of experience in the industry, currently owns and heads up culinary at San Jose’s lauded Halal Mexican restaurant El Halal Amigos. Abdelfattah is best known for his dedication to hospitality and charismatic personality, appearing on Food Network’s ‘Guy’s Grocery Games’ and ‘Battle of the Decades,’ and being honored in Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 40 under 40 in 2023. He joins the Willow Street Pizza team with a goal of refreshing the brand to continue its legacy, but keeping true to its roots that have established the 30-year-old restaurant as a beloved mainstay in the community.
“I am so honored to join this establishment that’s been a cherished part of the greater San Jose community for 30 years, and help guide its legacy into the future,” says Abdelfattah. “Guests can continue to expect high-quality food and a family-friendly environment, but I look forward to refreshing the brand with seasonal specials and restaurant renovations to attract a whole new generation of guests at Willow Street Pizza! A key part in what’s made the restaurant beloved over the past 30 years has been the hospitality of the staff, many of whom have been at Willow Street Pizza since its inception. Willow Street has also cemented itself in the community by giving back and donating over $60,000 to various organizations and schools in just the last five years. I look forward to maintaining this ethos while utilizing my experience to elevate the restaurant even further, and we’re thrilled to kick off this next chapter with our 30th anniversary party to celebrate the past, present, and future of the brand with our guests, friends, and neighbors that have made Willow Street what it is today.”
Willow Street Pizza was founded in 1991 by partners Ed Rathmann, Glen Thompson and Miguel Romero, who saw a void for wood fired fast-casual pizza restaurants in the South Bay. The trio opened the first location in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose, and the second location opened in 1993 in the charming city of Los Gatos. Known for their handcrafted pizzas, Willow Street Pizza takes pride in making authentic food that the whole family will love. With their wood-fired pizzas, pastas, salads and burgers, their menu offers a variety of classic and unique dishes. Some fan-favorite menu items include their Spicy Steak Fajita Pizza, Willow Burger, Margherita Pizza and Chicken Tequila Fettuccine.
“If you look at restaurants in the South Bay that have been around over 30 years, it’s a short list, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate this milestone anniversary with the people of Willow Glen and Los Gatos,” says Ed Rathmann. “For years, our focus has been community, community, community. We’ve been fortunate to serve generations of families, and the restaurants have become iconic landmarks. As we look towards the future, I am delighted that Chef Hisham is joining our team. I have the utmost confidence that he will take Willow Street Pizza to the next level.”
The San Jose outpost, located at 1072 Willow Street, is open Sunday-Thursday from 4 PM to 8:30 PM and Friday-Saturday from 4 PM to 9 PM. The Los Gatos outpost, located at 20 S Santa Cruz Ave, is open Sunday-Thursday from 11:30 AM to 8:30 PM and Friday-Saturday from 11:30 AM to 9 PM.
