Is there anything better than a hot, fresh slice of pizza? Young or old, it’s a favorite of many! All of us here at Russo’s New York Pizzeria can’t get enough and love learning all we can about the dish. We took it upon ourselves to find out more about the history of pizza delivery seeing as it’s become so popular!
The first ever pizza delivery that we know of occurred in 1889 in Naples, Italy. King Umberto I and Queen Margherita visited the birthplace of pizza itself and wanted to sample the local cuisine, so chefs from all over the city delivered their best slices for them to try. Queen Margherita loved pizza so much that the classic style was named after her.
Later, in 1945, American soldiers were returning home from WWII in Europe. They brought back a taste for the foods that they ate overseas, including our beloved pizza. Pizzerias were the ideal restaurants to open all around the country as they offered quick and cheap meals for families that didn’t have extra money to spend on eating out. Takeaway pizza was a novelty idea that quickly grew in popularity, and then bigger cities like Los Angeles and New York began delivering directly to homes.
Delivery continued to get more and more popular throughout the United States. As more and more people became able to own their own vehicles, pizza shops took advantage and sent their deliverers to work! In 1960, Tom Monaghan, the found of Domino’s pizza, invented the cardboard pizza box that we all recognize today. He did so out of a necessity to keep the pizza warm, stacked neatly, and fresh. Before cardboard, pizza places were struggling to keep pizza from getting soggy due to a lack of ventilation. The infamous cardboard pizza box solved that problem!
As the internet started booming, so did pizza delivery. In 1997, the very first websites for ordering pizza delivery came into existence. People could simply hop on their computers and order a quick, convenient, and affordable meal for themselves and their families that would show up right at their doorsteps! Now, we do the same from our palms on our smartphones.
Russo’s New York Pizzeria is joyous to continue the American tradition of providing phenomenal pizza that can be picked up or delivered! We have locations across the country, as well as international locations, and we are continuing to grow. Find a Russo's location near you and order delivery for dinner tonight!
It's the perfect time to franchise Russo's New York Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen and we know the pizza business and what it take to fire up your first restaurant. With 50+ locations and growing, our franchisees have created success built on our flexible design starting 1,500 sq ft. We produce a higher average store volume (AUV $1.134M) than industry average by serving authentic New York-style pizza and unique menu items. Ask about available territories!
