Grab a slice of this hot Temple pizza boy

If you’re a Temple student, regardless of how long you’ve been here, you probably know about Philly Style. Located on Broad Street, smack dab in the middle of three frats, Philly Style has become a hub for Temple students and North Philly locals alike.

But arguably the most popular thing at Philly Style isn’t on the menu – he works behind the counter. His name is Zachary Brewington, or as many Temple students and Yik Yak know him, “Hot Zack from Philly Style.”

So who is Hot Zack? The Tab sat down with the 20-year-old to see if there was more than just a pretty face behind Temple’s most famous pizza boy.

How did you start working at Philly Style?

When I first moved here I got a job at the Walnut Street Theatre, but I absolutely hated it and quit. But I had no income. So when I was pledging for the fraternity Sigma Alpha Mu, my main concern was that I had no money and I would complain about it every night. Fortunately, the President got me a job at Philly Style.

Because he worked there too?

Yes he worked there – they needed help and I needed a job so it just kinda happened.

How do you feel about being known as Hot Zack?

I don’t feel about it (laughs).

I’m sure you feel some type of way about it…

It’s a little flattering I guess and overpowering. I came from a small school in the Poconos so I wasn’t recognized by everyone and then coming here and being known as the campus pizza boy is very different.

What are some of the craziest memories from Philly Style?

One night we had a girl come in, she had a little too much to drink and couldn’t finish her pizza slice so she flopped it on the floor. Then she went to use the bathroom and she was in there for a solid 15 minutes. Her friends were concerned and knocking on the door and she didn’t answer so the owner had to intervene. He opened up the door and she was taking a nap on the floor of the bathroom.

On a good night, how many tips do you make?

We don’t make tips! I asked for a tip jar and people tell us to get a tip jar, but it hasn’t happened.

Do people recognize you on campus?

Of course. I don’t have a name on campus, I have a label and the label is “The Light Skin from Philly Style.”

How do you feel about that?

It’s nice that people recognize you, but it’s not so nice that they don’t know your name, they just know where you work. People always ask me about free pizza and I always say I can’t give them free pizza.

So, everyone wants to know – do you run the Philly Style Twitter?

That’s confidential (laughs).

You mentioned being in a fraternity, how has that experience been?

Being in any fraternity has its ups and downs, but Sigma Alpha Mu is something different. I’m grateful that I joined this fraternity because it has helped me find who I am and where I want to be in life and the people I want to surround myself with.

Do you have any tattoos?

I’ve got five of them. I’ve got two on my side. One is Simba from the Lion King and right below it is my Dad’s name in his own print. I got that just because the Lion King was our favorite movie to watch together and my Dad’s not around anymore so this is something I have with me all the time.

The next most meaningful tattoo is the camera I have on my left forearm. I got it because I have a huge passion for photography. That’s what I was originally going to go to school for and eventually work for National Geographic and travel the world taking pictures. But I tried taking a more practical route and settling for engineering, unfortunately. I still love to take pictures whenever I can. I have it on my arm because it is a true passion in my life.

I have an arrow on my right arm. It signifies a lot of things. I like where it is positioned because if I turn my arm a certain way it’s bent but if I turn it the other way its straight. No matter what, if you’re feeling bent out of shape in life there is always a way to straighten yourself up.

Rumor is you have a Soundcloud, can you tell me about that?

Coming into school I was in the path for music, I have a passion for music and tried to get into rapping. Growing up I was really into writing poetry and writing in general.

Do you write your own raps?

Yes, I love it. It’s a passion, it’s a process, it’s everything in between.

What is Cruzko? It’s posted all over your social media.

My roommates, Rob Ortega and Matt Burns, are two DJs that came together to make Cruzko Music. I moved into a house with them and they saw my talents and thought we could make something bigger. It has transformed from Cruzko Music to the Cruzko Brand, which is a creative collection where we work on audio production, photography and videography. They are the DJs and producers and I am the rapper and up-and-coming producer. We are trying to get people who would be interested in recording in our home studio and maybe we can produce some music.

Is it a record label?

It could be a record label, it could be a business. It’s got the best of all worlds. Recently we did a video advertisement – a 15 second Instagram video for this barber at Diamond Cutz.

Did you get paid?

Yes. $60. We try to charge cheaply for small projects like that because we’re on a college campus.

What is your favorite social media?

Out of all of them, I’m gonna go with Snapchat. The name itself is fun. You can get artsy with it. I like getting into it.

Have you ever seen people take pictures/Snapchats of you?

Yes, I’ve had people ask me to pose. I’ve seen people trying to be sneaky. I’ve seen it all.

What is your favorite food that they sell at Philly Style and in general?

Well, I’m a vegetarian and have been for a little over one year now, but if I were to eat meat my favorite food is fettuccini alfredo with chicken and broccoli. From Philly Style, I like the mozzarella sticks. As far as vegetarian foods go, I’ve had really good meatless chicken, which is made of tofu, soy and bean curds.

Is it tempting to work somewhere where the food isn’t vegetarian?

Not at all actually. The temping part was the two weeks when I first started, but then it became easier. I now see meat as something that’s uneatable.

Do you have anyone you’re interested in dating?

I have a girlfriend, Rachel. She’s a doll. She’s a veterinary nurse at a hospital in Lehigh Valley and she absolutely loves working with animals. She’s taken a trip to Africa to work with wildlife over there at a wildlife conservation center. She knows what she wants to do, she’s headstrong and she’s very passionate. I love that about her.

How did you guys meet?

In ninth grade of high school I went into homeroom and sat next to a girl and it was Rachel. Ever since then it has been a friendship that just recently bloomed into more. She had a boyfriend at the time so I couldn’t make a move, but I’ve had a crush on her ever since.

So you’re officially off the market?

Hot Zack is officially off the market (laughs).

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I dream of myself living in California, not too far from the beach. I picture myself living at a house temporarily, but traveling the world producing music. I want people to vibe with me.