As Italian populations grew in U.S. cities, local entrepreneurs added their own unique twists to pizza. In New Haven, Conn., Frank Pepe opened a business in 1925 selling thin-crust “apizza” in two varieties—one with anchovies, one without (and neither had mozzarella cheese originally). Chicago deep dish pizza, meanwhile, can be traced back to 1943, when the restaurant that came to be known as Pizzeria Uno opened.
Slices of History: Great Moments in Pizza Innovation
A brief look back at some of the big innovations that have helped pizza become fully ingrained in modern American dining culture
World War Era: Regional Specialties on the Map
Full List
Pizza Pizza!
- The Pizza, It Is A-Changin’
- 1889: Pizza (As We Know It) Is Born
- 1905: The First American Pizzeria
- World War Era: Regional Specialties on the Map
- 1958: Birth of a Pizza Chain
- 1960: Era of Speedy Delivery Arrives
- 1962: Pizza Hits the Frozen Food Section
- 1962: The Advent of Wacky Toppings
- 1985: No More Collapsing Boxes
- 1995: The “Take-and-Bake” Revolution
- 2010: Gluten-Free Pizza Hits the Scene
- 2012: Pizza Goes Fast Casual
- 2013: Wild Innovations Keep on Coming