Lombardi's America's First Pizzeria

The story goes that a bread maker from Naples in 1897,  Gennaro Lombardi started a grocery store in Little Italy at 53 1/2 Spring Street, and began selling tomato pies for 5 cents in which the cheese is put down first, then covered in tomato sauce. 

 

In 1905 Lombardi received a business license to operate a pizzeria restaurant and had a clientele over the years that included Caruso, Kerouac, and Sinatra. 

 

Lombardi forever changed the course of American eating habits and is known in some circles as the Godfather of Pizza.  

 

Pizza lovers from around the world make a pilgrimage to see where it all began.

 

The delicately charred pies are fired in a smoky crusted coal oven, baked Pizza with purist tomato sauce, fresh whole milk mozzarella and basil. 

 

In 1984 the original Lombardi’s closed for ten years and reopened a block away at 32 Spring Street run by Gennero Lombardi III, Lombardi’s grandson.

 

Remember it’s still cash only.