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Home > Blogs > Taste: Dayton food and restaurants > Archives > 2008 > November > 25 > Entry
Pizza rules on Thanksgiving Eve
(Looking for restaurants that are open on Thanksgiving Day or to add yours to the list? Click here to go straight to it.)
By Mark Fisher
Staff Writer
Pity the poor Pilgrims.
How did they possibly prepare the first Thanksgiving Day feast without speed-dialing the local carry-out pizza joint from their cell phone to take care of dinner the night before?
We’ll never know. But we do know their descendants in the 21st Century will punch those pizzeria phone numbers plenty Wednesday night on Thanksgiving Eve.
“The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is one of our busiest days of the year,” said Roger Glass, CEO of Marion’s Piazza, which operates seven restaurants in the Dayton area. “People are busy focusing on preparations for Thanksgiving dinner and don’t have time to cook the night before.”
Vic Cassano Jr., CEO of Cassano’s that operates more than 30 restaurants across the Miami Valley, said his pizzerias also do gangbuster business on Thanksgiving Eve. “We know it’s coming, so we prepare ourselves” with additional staffing, pizza ingredients and supplies, Cassano said.
The Ann Arbor-based Domino’s Pizza chain will deliver more than 1.1 million pizzas to homes across the nation on Wednesday, Nov. 26 — a 50 percent increase over the typical Wednesday. That puts Thanksgiving Eve into the top five busiest days of the year, along with Super Bowl Sunday, Halloween, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, Domino’s officials say.
And while Thursday brings a holiday respite, the pizza-makers get right back at it on Friday, which for Marion’s pizzerias at least, is even busier than Thanksgiving Eve.
“A lot of people return home to Dayton from out of town for the holiday, and they need to have their fix before they go back,” Glass said.
Permalink | Comments (19) | Post your comment | Categories: Local restaurant news
Comments
By Julie
November 25, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
So what kind of Thanksgiving specials do these places have going on?By eeDee
November 25, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
I want to try Tony’s at the corner of Wayne and Arbor in Belmont. They have a buy one get one free deal. I saw this place on Bucher’s Beat. Looks good. Hope they are opened on TGEveBy Bill
November 25, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
Dayton’s Original Pizza Factory has great pizza and a two large pizza deal going on.By nortons grill
November 25, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
We have great pizza at prices that can not be beat. Stop in and try one and while you are here enjoy the 99 cent happy hour mon-sat from 3-6pmBy Mary
November 25, 2008 11:01 PM | Link to this
Hey Nortons and Daytons original pizza factory maybe you should advertise in one of the local coupon publications and people would know you have specials.By nick reiter
November 26, 2008 7:18 AM | Link to this
Dont forget about Donatos! The have the best pizza in Dayton. The new fresh mozzarella meatball pizza is delicious, and who puts more pepperoni on their pepperoni pizzas???? Nobody!By pk
November 26, 2008 7:48 AM | Link to this
KRAMERS !!!!!!!!!!!!By Bob
November 26, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this
I’m in Minneapolis and after reading about Dayton pizza… in my opinion, MARION’S PIAZZA IS THE BEST PIZZA IN THE U.S.A.!!! Oh how I could go for a Deluxe Extra Crispy right now at 7:20AM CST!By Dave
November 26, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
Flying Pizza is the best! Yum!By Karen
November 26, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
Joe’s pizza at Smithville and Airway Rd. is absolutely the best pizza anywhere!By Pizza Lover
November 26, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
As far as hometown pizza, I’d have to say Cassano’s is the best! But I like Donato’s too.By bobbatt
November 26, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Richards Pizza has the best pizza AND steak sandwiches everBy bobbatt
November 26, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this
I forgot to add that Richards Pizza is located in good ol’ Hamilton, Trenton and FairfieldBy Brad
November 26, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
Tony’s on Wayne is phenomenal! Highly recommend Tony’s.By Gregg in Florida
November 26, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
MARIONS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!By osuvegas
November 26, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
Cassano’s!!!!!! I’ve been in Las Vegas for 20yrs last time I ate Cassano’s pizza 6yrs ago when I was back visiting family boy do I miss it.By Vicki
November 26, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
I agree with Karen, Joe’s Pizza at Smithville and Airway is the best pizza in Dayton. Been going there since I was a young girl. I’m 50 now. They also have a great Steak Sandwich.By preacher,franklin,ohio
November 26, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
i love cassanos is good geter done for jesus god bless you all happy thankgives love in chirst preacher.By Pizza Lover
November 26, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
Love hometown pizza Marion’s & Cassano’s but try GodFathers in Huber Heights.Had when I was younger they left and there back.Great Stuff!