The History Of The Panzerotto Pizza Shop

Pizzas are meals that consist of flat oven baked dough that is topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and a vast array of meats and vegetables. Although the dish originated in Greece, pizza quickly spread to other cultures and is currently one of the most popular foods in the world. In America, several different types of pizza can be found depending on the region you are in. For generations, New Yorkers and Chicagoans have been at war over who’s pizza is better. However for Canadians, the family run Panzerotto Pizza is the clear favorite. And after researching the history of the Panzerotto Pizza restaurants, it’s easy to see why this small franchise is so popular.

Panzerotto styled pizza is sometimes referred to as a smaller doughier calzone. Mozzarella cheeses and tomatoes are the most popular ingredients but the dishes can also be stuffed with pepperoni, onions, and other items. The dish originated in Italy in the 40′s but has become extremely popular in several Canadian cities.

The chain began in late 1976 with just one location in downtown Toronto. The small establishment, located at 501 Yonge St., was owned and operated by a chef named Alex Schiavone. Alex’s cooking experience began in the early 50′s when he worked as a gourmet chef.

In 1969, Alex opened up a tiny Italian cafe in Ontario and took the next couple of years focusing on his skills. It was during this period that he began serving Panzerotto style dishes to his customers. The Panzerotto pizza is a calzone type of item that was created in a small village in southern Italy.

The new dish quickly became an instant hit with the Ontario customers and they began to demand the pizza in large quantities. It was so popular, in fact, that Mr. Schiavone decided to to sell his Italian restaurant and open up one that would predominantly sell the new dish in Toronto.

Sales of the new dishes were incredibly slow at first because of the fact that the new style was basically unknown at that time. But slowly, its fans were able to pass the news of the delicious new pizza and won over any detractors. In 1980, Alex decided to play his business’s newfound success to his advantage. He brought in a number of investors and grew his business with franchising opportunities.

The pizza company has been strong since then and Alex’s immediate family members have remained involved in the operation. Currently, there are thirty five shops that operate across the United States and Canada. Alex, along with his sons Joe, Vito, and Frank are integral parts and have roughly seventy five years of experience between them all. Together, they run both the various stores and the head office.

As of the mid 90′s, the chain was the first company to advertise city wide pie delivery with the internet. Hungry users were given the ability to go to the company’s site and order their favorite pizzas. With the use of this technology that was very modern and advanced for its the time, orders were directed to calling centers and then arranged for local delivery. The popular pizza chain, not willing to just stop, is currently still changing and improving their top of the line customer service skills.

Home to the original Panzerotto pizza since 1976, Canada’s most trusted Restaurant Franchise offers wings and Pizza Delivery Toronto service to location such as Etobicoke, North York, and Toronto.