by Dorothy Kulisek
Twenty years ago, on December 9, 2005, the biting cold winds of early winter gave way to something far more devastating—a blaze that would go down as one of Wildwood’s worst fires in history. Reported in The Sun, the inferno ignited around 2:30 that Friday afternoon, raging for 18 relentless hours and consuming two beloved boardwalk landmarks: Sam’s Pizza Palace and the Shore Plaza.
The loss was heartbreaking. For generations of families, Sam’s wasn’t just a pizza palace—it was tradition, laughter, and the taste of summer itself. Yet even as smoke still hung in the air, plans were already being made to rebuild. Wildwood has always had a way of rising from the ashes, and Sam’s was no exception.
Just five months later, on Memorial Day Weekend 2006, Sam’s Pizza reopened—bigger, brighter, and stronger than ever. Crowds poured onto the boardwalk, drawn by that unmistakable aroma and a sense of joy that no fire could extinguish.
Now, as Presidents Weekend 2026 approaches, Sam’s Pizza prepares to open for its 69th season. It’s become something of a winter miracle—when the boardwalk, quiet and wind-swept all winter long, suddenly bursts back to life. For many, it’s the unofficial start of the season… and a reminder that some Wildwood traditions are simply too strong to fade.
The Sam’s Pizza family
Behind the counter and ovens of Sam’s Pizza is a story that runs even deeper than the dough and sauce — a family legacy now in its fourth generation. Over the decades, countless young people have spent their summers working there, learning the rhythm of the boardwalk and the pride of hard work. Many have stayed on, season after season, becoming part of the Sam’s family themselves. Some even met their sweethearts behind those pizza counters — love stories that began with a shared apron and a few stolen smiles. Together, the family and their devoted crew have built more than a business; they’ve built a tradition, one that feels like home to everyone lucky enough to be part of it.