Panzera’s Pizza

The Panzera family immigrated to America in 1955 from the Abruzzo/Abruzzi section of Italy and settled in the Grandview Heights area with seven children.

Nick Panzera  (b. 1951) worked for a bakery making bread, and also at Leonardo's Pizza on First Avenue. While working for others he dreamed about starting his own business.

Nick was 13 and going to Everett Jr. High School when, with encouragement from his algebra teacher (who printed his first menu), he passed out flyers for pizza throughout the neighborhood. With help from family and friends, Nick and his 31-year-old brother Phil opened their store in 1964 with one oven, making the dough by hand. Experiments with dough making and a sauce recipe from his mother's kitchen kept the business going 7 days a week from 4 p.m. until midnight (2 a.m. on weekends). Business increased and several moves of the store followed, until in 1983 the business moved to its present location.

Loyal customers have been eating Panzera's Pizza for almost 50 years since the first pizza was purchased in 1964. Panzera’s still makes their own dough, pizza sauce, spaghetti sauce, and other items, most from original Panzera family recipes. Recipes are not written down but are passed along on the job from employee to employee. Nick sold the shop to Fred Lombardi and his wife (Nick’s sister) in 1976. Fred had worked at Panzera’s for many years prior to assuming ownership. The present owner is Carlo Lombardi, Fred’s son and Nick Panzera's nephew. Patrons can still often find Fred, Carlo and (grandson) Andy kneading and tossing the dough behind the counter.

Nick Panzera and a young customer with insert of first Panzera's Pizza menu.

Panzera’s classic pepperoni pizza.