Built By The Community, Giovanni’s Dillicious Pickles Opens In New Hope

Local businesses are more than just places that sell food, merchandise, and other goods. They are often places that become hubs for the community.

A new pickle shop at 127c South Main Street in New Hope Borough aims to bring that feeling of community.

Last weekend, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for Giovanni’s Dillicious Pickles’ new shop that has pickles, tasty bites, and themed-merchandise. Members of the Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce, State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, State Rep. Tim Brennan, and former New Hope Borough Mayor Larry Keller helped officiate the ceremony.

“The representation of the ribbon that we’re cutting today is to let go of all the sadness that’s been in the past six months and cut that ribbon for a new beginning and new opportunities,” said Gabby Favoroso, who operates Giovanni’s Dillicious Pickles

Giovanni’s Dillicious Pickles is new to the borough but has been well-known among Bucks Countians for several years.

Originally opened in 2022, the shop started as a pickle-focused restaurant along Route 13 in Bristol Township’s Croydon section. It offered different variations of food staples using pickles, including sandwiches and pizza.

Over the years, Giovanni’s Dillicious Pickles grew a large following.

That was until a pipe leak in February devastated the store during a bout of below-freezing weather.

After the leak occurred, even while continuing to pay rent, Giovanni’s Dillicious Pickles had to eventually realize the Croydon location couldn’t reopen.

Despite the setback, Favoroso and her family were determined to not have the pipe leak be the end of their story. 

While Favoroso already had the New Hope Borough storefront, the original purpose of it was to be a second location.

The story of how Giovanni’s Dillicious Pickles started is just as interesting as how they got here and it all starts with a food truck. 

Gabby’s younger brother, Michael, originally started a pickle-themed food truck, which was outside of their mother’s house.

After that, they opened up the Croydon location as a sit-down restaurant for the community to enjoy. That community aspect was clearly an important part of the business. 

“The whole place was built brick-by-brick by the community,” said Favoroso. “Everything that we do is community based.” 

The community-based feel is a big reason why Favoroso and her family have been able to get a lot of attention at the new shop, even with it not being open very long. 

“I think this is gonna be more successful than the Croydon location,” said Favoroso.

That adjustment from a restaurant in Croydon to the shop in New Hope Borough was made easier by the warm welcome Giovanni’s Dillicious Pickles has received.

One of the ways Giovanni’s Dillicious Pickles is giving back, according to Favoroso, is through a “pay it forward board.”

How it works: customers come by and pre-purchase meals and then anyone in need throughout the day could come by and pick up what they call a VIP meal. After the person receives the VIP meal at no cost to them, they are also given a pamphlet with other free things to do in the area. 

Favoroso said she believes the best marketing is through word of mouth and positive interactions with customers.

Right when a customer walks through the front doors, a pickle-themed mural showing off New Hope staples, like John and Peter’s and Karla’s, greets customers.

Favoroso said the staff has helped make the business what it is today.

One of those staff members, Therese (better known as Trixie), has been with the restaurant for years.

“Working there has been the best decision I’ve made,” said Trixie.