Seven West Virginia Pepperoni Roll Shops Locals Argue About Like Family Recipes

Some foods belong to a place so completely that folks will defend their favorite version like it’s a family heirloom. In West Virginia, the humble pepperoni roll is exactly that kind of treasure, born in coal country and carried in lunch pails long before it landed on bakery shelves.

Ask any local where to find the best one and you’ll spark a friendly argument that can last all afternoon. Here are seven beloved shops that keep that delicious debate simmering across the Mountain State.

1. Country Club Bakery, Fairmont, WV

Ground zero for the whole tradition sits on Country Club Road, where the pepperoni roll was first commercialized back in 1927. Nearly a century later, the bakery still turns out rolls the way it did in those early decades.

Purists treat this spot as the yardstick every other roll gets measured against. The classic version keeps things simple: soft white bread wrapped around sticks of pepperoni, with the oils soaking into the dough as it bakes.

That infusion is the whole point, and skipping the cheese is a badge of honor here rather than an oversight.

The setting is clean and unfussy, built for grabbing your order and getting on your way instead of lingering. Beyond the famous rolls, the cases hold Italian buns, cookies, pies, and fresh bread that keep regulars coming back.

Warm rolls come out of the ovens throughout the day, and prices land in the friendly $10 to $20 range. Find it at 1211 Country Club Rd, Fairmont, WV 26554.

Free parking makes the quick stop even easier.

2. Colasessano’s Pizza, Fairmont, WV

If Country Club represents the purist camp, Colasessano’s is where the pepperoni roll grows up into a full meal. This family-run Fairmont eatery takes the state classic and turns the volume all the way up.

The signature pepperoni buns arrive generously stuffed, often split down the center and dressed with sauce, cheese, and peppers for a heartier, pizza-like experience. Fans who like a little decadence with their comfort food swear by this style, while traditionalists raise an eyebrow, and that tension is exactly what makes the place fun.

Thick-crust Sicilian pizza, hot subs, salads, and house-made gelato round out a menu that rewards a leisurely sit-down. The atmosphere leans casual and cozy, with table service, high chairs, and a kids’ menu that make it a comfortable stop for groups and families alike.

College students and visitors mix easily here, and the staff have a reputation for attentive, friendly service. Doors open in the afternoons, Monday through Saturday, with plenty of free parking.

You’ll find it at 141 Middletown Cir, Fairmont, WV 26554, with most plates falling in the $10 to $20 range.

3. Tomaro’s Bakery, Clarksburg, WV

Clarksburg carries its own claim in the great pepperoni roll debate, and Tomaro’s is the bakery that anchors it. Baking here traces back to 1914, making it one of the oldest Italian bakeries in the state and a living link to those coal-camp beginnings.

Loyalty runs deep on North 4th Street. Generations have grown up making the drive into Clarksburg specifically for these rolls, and lines can stretch when hot batches come straight from the oven.

Tradition rules the recipe. The kitchen sticks with genuine Italian bread and stick pepperoni, a choice that plants a flag firmly in the “stick versus slice” argument locals love to rehash.

Alongside the famous rolls, you’ll find pizza crust, buns, cookies, and a round loaf that regulars mention almost as often as the pepperoni.

Service is quick and efficient, built for takeout rather than sitting down, so plan on a fast in-and-out visit. Hours run mornings into early afternoon, with a Sunday window that draws its own faithful crowd.

Stop by 411 N 4th St, Clarksburg, WV 26301, where most orders stay in the $10 to $20 range.

4. Chico Bakery, Morgantown, WV

Mountaineer country has its own dog in this fight, and Chico Bakery is the name Morgantown folks bring up first. Rooted in a recipe that traces back to the 1920s, this bakery built a reputation that eventually reached generations of West Virginia University students.

Variety is where Chico shines. Beyond the plain roll, the cases hold options like double cheese and wheat versions, showing off how far the humble miner’s lunch has traveled from its bare-bones origins.

The bakery leans into that evolution while still respecting the classic. Fans rave about the pepperoni rolls, and many stop in for coffee, muffins, and a loaf of bread to carry home, turning a quick errand into a full basket.

Ease of ordering earns steady praise, and the shop offers both takeout and delivery for folks who can’t make the trip in person. Hours run mornings through early afternoon on weekdays, so plan accordingly.

Its cultural weight, part campus tradition, part neighborhood staple, keeps Morgantown proudly in the origin conversation. Find it at 1644 Blue Horizon Dr, Morgantown, WV 26501, with prices sitting in the $10 to $20 range.

5. JR’s Donut Castle, Parkersburg, WV

Not every great pepperoni roll comes from a strictly Italian bakery, and JR’s Donut Castle in Parkersburg proves the point with delicious stubbornness. Best known for donuts, this local icon has quietly earned a devoted following for its pepperoni rolls too.

Regulars treat it as a twice-a-week ritual, loading up on freshly made rolls right alongside boxes of glazed donuts. That crossover appeal makes it a delightful wildcard in any pepperoni roll argument, especially west of the coalfields where the tradition looks a little different.

Affordability is a big part of the charm. Sweet treats and rolls stay in the $1 to $10 range, and the shop keeps generous hours, opening early and staying open late every day of the week.

Fresh pastries, homemade bread, cherry turnovers, cakes, and cookies fill the cases, backed by counter service that moves fast. There’s a drive-through for busy mornings and dine-in seating for folks who want to linger over coffee.

A genuine staple of the area, it never seems to disappoint the regulars who plan their week around it. Visit at 3318 Emerson Ave, Parkersburg, WV 26104.

6. D’Annunzio’s Bakery, Clarksburg, WV

Down the road from its Clarksburg rival, D’Annunzio’s makes its case with warm bread and even warmer loyalty. Behind a modest facade sits a bakery whose pepperoni rolls have earned near-legendary status among people who take this food seriously.

Timing is everything here. Get in early, catch a batch fresh from the oven, and you’re rewarded with soft, warm bread wrapped around pepperoni that many locals will flat-out declare the best anywhere.

The staff have been known to ask folks to wait a few minutes so the rolls come out hot.

Bread and buns share the spotlight. Traditional Italian loaves, hoagie buns, and pizza crusts round out a lineup that keeps the neighborhood coming back generation after generation.

The rivalry with other Clarksburg shops is friendly but real, and that back-and-forth is exactly the kind of family-recipe argument this list celebrates. Prices are gentle, landing in the $1 to $10 range for a quick takeout stop.

Hours run early mornings into the afternoon, with a Sunday window for weekend cravings. Find this humble gem at 1909 Williams Ave, Clarksburg, WV 26301.

7. Abruzzino’s Italian Bakery, Gypsy, WV

Tucked into the tiny community of Gypsy, Abruzzino’s is the kind of out-of-the-way find that rewards drivers willing to leave the main road. For a quarter century, this small Italian bakery has been turning out pepperoni rolls that neighbors will happily crown the best in the area.

Generosity defines the roll. These come packed full of pepperoni, wrapped in fresh Italian bread that comes out of the oven hot and soft, exactly the way tradition demands.

The bakery’s reputation reaches well beyond the rolls, though. Homemade Italian bread and hoagie buns earn constant praise, and the case of heavy, over-stuffed fruit pies, including a pineapple upside-down version, has its own quiet fan club.

Being a little off the beaten path only adds to the appeal, giving Abruzzino’s the feel of a well-kept secret that locals share reluctantly. Everything stays affordable, with prices in the $1 to $10 range for a quick takeout visit.

Doors are open Wednesday through Monday, closed Tuesdays and Saturdays, from mid-morning to late afternoon. Point your car toward 6517 Shinnston Pike, Gypsy, WV 26361, and settle the pepperoni roll debate for yourself.