Jump to content

Vincent's Pizza Park: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
mNo edit summary
mNo edit summary
Line 30: Line 30:
== Information ==
== Information ==


Vincent Chianese, the restaurant's founder, went to San Francisco in 1950 to learn how to make pizza from his uncle.<ref name="WQED">{{Citation| last =| first =| year =2018| title = Pittsburgh Eats: Vincent's Pizza Park | publisher=WQED Pittsburgh| publication-place = web | page=| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al3YGxlesV0| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> After returning, Vincent's Pizza Park was founded in 1952. While pizza is a common food today, many of the locals in the area did not know what pizza was at the time<ref name="WQED"></ref>.Chianese gained notoriety over his lifetime for often being seen cooking while smoking a cigar (with ashes sometimes falling into it) and was cited as a larger than life figure with an off-color demeanor.<ref name=PPG2">{{Citation| last =McConnell Schaarsmith| first =Amy| year =2012| title = Ovens cool at Vincent's Pizza Park after 60 years | publisher=Pittsburgh Post Gazette| publication-place = web | page=| url=https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2012/05/19/Ovens-cool-at-Vincent-s-Pizza-Park-after-60-years/stories/201205190145/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref><ref name=Trib10">{{Citation| last =Heyl| first =Eric| year =2010| title =Art of the pizza pie: Vinnie mastered his palate| publisher=Trib Live| publication-place = web | page=| url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/art-of-the-pizza-pie-vinnie-mastered-his-palate/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref>Chianese passed away in 2010 at the age of 85<ref name=CBS2"></ref>
Vincent Chianese, the restaurant's founder, went to San Francisco in 1950 to learn how to make pizza from his uncle.<ref name="WQED">{{Citation| last =| first =| year =2018| title = Pittsburgh Eats: Vincent's Pizza Park | publisher=WQED Pittsburgh| publication-place = web | page=| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al3YGxlesV0| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> After returning, Vincent's Pizza Park was founded in 1952. While pizza is a common food today, many of the locals in the area did not know what pizza was at the time<ref name="WQED"></ref>.Chianese gained notoriety over his lifetime for often being seen cooking while smoking a cigar (with ashes sometimes falling into it) and was cited as a larger than life figure with an off-color demeanor.<ref name="MC"></ref><ref name=PPG2">{{Citation| last =McConnell Schaarsmith| first =Amy| year =2012| title = Ovens cool at Vincent's Pizza Park after 60 years | publisher=Pittsburgh Post Gazette| publication-place = web | page=| url=https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2012/05/19/Ovens-cool-at-Vincent-s-Pizza-Park-after-60-years/stories/201205190145/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref><ref name=Trib10">{{Citation| last =Heyl| first =Eric| year =2010| title =Art of the pizza pie: Vinnie mastered his palate| publisher=Trib Live| publication-place = web | page=| url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/art-of-the-pizza-pie-vinnie-mastered-his-palate/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref>Chianese passed away in 2010 at the age of 85<ref name=CBS2"></ref>


The restaurant is famous for it's "Vinnie Pie" style of pizza, which is notable for its generous amount of topings, a thick crust, it's abundance of grease and for its size which often leaves customers with [[Leftovers | leftovers]].<ref name=Trib10"></ref><ref name=Trib3">{{Citation| last =Brandolph| first =Adam| year =2012| title = The 'Vinnie Pie' is no more| publisher=Trib Live| publication-place = web | page=| url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/the-vinnie-pie-is-no-more-3/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref><ref name=CBS2"></ref> The restaurant offers pizza in three sizes: 9", 11" and 19" inch pizza's and notably does not serve their pizza in a takeout box, but on top of a piece of cardboard covered in paper sheets.<ref name="PGHMAG">{{Citation| last =| first =| year =2011| title = Best of the 'Burgh 2011: Food and Drink | publisher=Pittsburgh Magazine| publication-place = web | page=| url=https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/best-of-the-burgh-2011-food-and-drink/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> The restaurant notability has never offered deliveries, has never advertised nor was it open for lunch.<ref name=Trib10"> </ref>The restaurant also did not sell anything but pizza during some of its existence.<ref name=Trib10"></ref><ref name=Trib111">{{Citation| last =Machosky| first =Michael| year =2012| title =Lunch review: Vincent's Pizza Park| publisher=Trib Live| publication-place = web | page=| url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/lunch-review-vincents-pizza-park/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> The restaurants peak time is during [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] football games, where 20 pizzas are often baked at once.<ref name=PPG5">{{Citation| last =Laurinatis| first =Judy| year =2005| title = Game-time often means 140 pizzas at Vincent's | publisher=Pittsburgh Post Gazette| publication-place = web | page=| url=https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2005/01/26/Game-time-often-means-140-pizzas-at-Vincent-s/stories/200501260179| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref>
The restaurant is famous for it's "Vinnie Pie" style of pizza, which is notable for its generous amount of topings, a thick crust, it's abundance of grease and for its size which often leaves customers with [[Leftovers | leftovers]].<ref name=Trib10"></ref><ref name=Trib3">{{Citation| last =Brandolph| first =Adam| year =2012| title = The 'Vinnie Pie' is no more| publisher=Trib Live| publication-place = web | page=| url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/the-vinnie-pie-is-no-more-3/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref><ref name=CBS2"></ref> The restaurant offers pizza in three sizes: 9", 11" and 19" inch pizza's and notably does not serve their pizza in a takeout box, but on top of a piece of cardboard covered in paper sheets.<ref name="PGHMAG">{{Citation| last =| first =| year =2011| title = Best of the 'Burgh 2011: Food and Drink | publisher=Pittsburgh Magazine| publication-place = web | page=| url=https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/best-of-the-burgh-2011-food-and-drink/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> The restaurant notability has never offered deliveries, has never advertised nor was it open for lunch.<ref name=Trib10"> </ref>The restaurant also did not sell anything but pizza during some of its existence.<ref name=Trib10"></ref><ref name=Trib111">{{Citation| last =Machosky| first =Michael| year =2012| title =Lunch review: Vincent's Pizza Park| publisher=Trib Live| publication-place = web | page=| url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/lunch-review-vincents-pizza-park/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> The restaurants peak time is during [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] football games, where 20 pizzas are often baked at once.<ref name=PPG5">{{Citation| last =Laurinatis| first =Judy| year =2005| title = Game-time often means 140 pizzas at Vincent's | publisher=Pittsburgh Post Gazette| publication-place = web | page=| url=https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2005/01/26/Game-time-often-means-140-pizzas-at-Vincent-s/stories/200501260179| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref>

Revision as of 19:02, 19 March 2023

Vincent's Pizza Park
Company typePizzeria
Founded1952
FounderVincent Chianese
SuccessorToni Zollner
Headquarters
Pittsburgh
,
Pennsylvania
WebsiteVincentspizzapark.com

Vincent's Pizza Park is an pizzeria restaurant located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.[1] The restaurant has been labeled as an iconic Pittsburgh restaurant.[2]

Information

Vincent Chianese, the restaurant's founder, went to San Francisco in 1950 to learn how to make pizza from his uncle.[3] After returning, Vincent's Pizza Park was founded in 1952. While pizza is a common food today, many of the locals in the area did not know what pizza was at the time[3].Chianese gained notoriety over his lifetime for often being seen cooking while smoking a cigar (with ashes sometimes falling into it) and was cited as a larger than life figure with an off-color demeanor.[4][5][6]Chianese passed away in 2010 at the age of 85[7]

The restaurant is famous for it's "Vinnie Pie" style of pizza, which is notable for its generous amount of topings, a thick crust, it's abundance of grease and for its size which often leaves customers with leftovers.[6][8][7] The restaurant offers pizza in three sizes: 9", 11" and 19" inch pizza's and notably does not serve their pizza in a takeout box, but on top of a piece of cardboard covered in paper sheets.[9] The restaurant notability has never offered deliveries, has never advertised nor was it open for lunch.[6]The restaurant also did not sell anything but pizza during some of its existence.[6][10] The restaurants peak time is during Pittsburgh Steelers football games, where 20 pizzas are often baked at once.[11]

The restaurant closed in 2012 over rent, franchise and royalty issues.[12][13][14][8][7] The restaurant was supposed to be put up for sheriff's sale in 2012, but the sheriff's sale request was withdrawn.[15][16] The restaurant was renovated and reopened in 2013 by Chianese's daughter, Toni Zollner and continues to operate to this day.[17]

In 2020, Vincent's donated over 140 pizzas during the Covid-19 pandemic to front-line workers.[18]

The restaurant was featured in Philipp Meyer's 2009 novel, "American Rust"[19] and in the 2015 Pittsburgh horror television series, "It's Alive".[4]

References

  1. ^ Tully, Jessica (2013), Vincent's Pizza Park, home of the 'Vinnie Pie,' nears reopening after dispute, web: Pittsburgh Post Gazette, retrieved 13 March 2023
  2. ^ Cain, Jackie (2013), Iconic Pittsburgh Pizza Shop Re-Opens, web: WTAE, retrieved 13 March 2023
  3. ^ a b Pittsburgh Eats: Vincent's Pizza Park, web: WQED Pittsburgh, 2018, retrieved 13 March 2023
  4. ^ a b Vincent's Pizza Segment on It's Alive, web: Professor Emcee Square, 2010, retrieved 13 March 2023
  5. ^ McConnell Schaarsmith, Amy (2012), Ovens cool at Vincent's Pizza Park after 60 years, web: Pittsburgh Post Gazette, retrieved 13 March 2023
  6. ^ a b c d Heyl, Eric (2010), Art of the pizza pie: Vinnie mastered his palate, web: Trib Live, retrieved 13 March 2023
  7. ^ a b c Future Uncertain For Popular Local Pizza Shop, web: CBS News, 2012, retrieved 13 March 2023
  8. ^ a b Brandolph, Adam (2012), The 'Vinnie Pie' is no more, web: Trib Live, retrieved 13 March 2023
  9. ^ Best of the 'Burgh 2011: Food and Drink, web: Pittsburgh Magazine, 2011, retrieved 13 March 2023
  10. ^ Machosky, Michael (2012), Lunch review: Vincent's Pizza Park, web: Trib Live, retrieved 13 March 2023
  11. ^ Laurinatis, Judy (2005), Game-time often means 140 pizzas at Vincent's, web: Pittsburgh Post Gazette, retrieved 13 March 2023
  12. ^ Rex, Stephanie (2012), Vincent's Pizza Park Now Closed, web: Patch, retrieved 13 March 2023
  13. ^ Pittsburgh landmark Vincent's Pizza Park closes, web: Trib Live, 2012, retrieved 13 March 2023
  14. ^ Brandolph, Adam (2012), Vincent's, landmark pizza shop in Forest Hills, shut down, web: Trib Live, retrieved 13 March 2023
  15. ^ Barcousky, Len (2012), Sheriff's sale canceled for Vincent's Pizza Park, web: Pittsburgh Post Gazette, retrieved 13 March 2023
  16. ^ Brandolph, Adam (2012), Iconic North Braddock pizzeria handed over to founder's daughter, web: Trib Live, retrieved 13 March 2023
  17. ^ Heyl, Eric (2013), What tops a Vinnie pie return?, web: Trib Live, retrieved 13 March 2023
  18. ^ Vincent's Pizza Providing Free 'Pandemic Pies' For Frontline Workers, web: CBS News, 2020, retrieved 13 March 2023
  19. ^ Behe, Rege (2009), 'American Rust' examines those left behind in American dream, web: Trib Live, retrieved 13 March 2023
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Vincent%27s_Pizza_Park&oldid=1145549333"