The famed pizzaiolo is slated to open a location in LA County this summer
Tony Gemignani, the Bay Area’s most famous pizzaiolo and one of the top pizza chefs in the world, is continuing to rapidly expand his Slice House empire with a franchise opening near the heart of LA in Burbank this summer. The new Slice House — which joins eight standalone locations in the Bay Area and two Southern California outposts in Ventura County — marks his first venture into Los Angeles County.
Gemignani is essentially the EGOT of pizza: He’s a 13-time world champion, is the U.S. ambassador of Neapolitan pizza for Naples, has written multiple books on the subject and is even a former Guinness World Record holder for creating the largest pizza on the planet. And he’s got multiple pizza concepts under his belt, with fast-casual Slice House serving New York, Sicilian, Grandma and Detroit-style pizzas all under the same roof. Fresh pasta and wings, as well as plenty of gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options, round out the menu alongside slices and whole pies. (The Burbank location will be franchised and operated by Gemignani’s Southern California partner, Vinny Margott.)
With the new venture, Gemignani enters an already saturated and thriving LA pizza market that’s been recognized for its breadth of offerings and entrepreneurial spirit. With his notoriety and Slice House Burbank’s location in Palm Plaza — just steps from one of the highest-producing AMC theaters in the country and a short drive from major local studios — Gemignani should be set up for slice success.
“It’s exciting to be here. LA is going through a pizza renaissance, and we’re right in the middle of it,” Gemignani told SFGATE. “We have a lot of different styles, like the Grandma and the Detroit style, that may not be as available in the suburbs. Customers really like having those options.”
Burbank isn’t the only Southern California location coming, either, with outposts in Culver City, Manhattan Beach, San Diego and Orange County in the works. Given that Gemignani has already gone Hollywood, so to speak, as a producer on the recent comedy-thriller “LaRoy,” building a Los Angeles empire may be the logical next step in his storied career.
Slice House, 108 E. Palm Ave., Burbank. Opening summer 2024.