Vincent's Pizza Park
Vincent's Pizza Park is a longstanding Pittsburgh-area pizzeria known for its oversized, heavily topped Vinnie Pie pizza and unconventional neighborhood identity.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Vincent's Pizza Park is a pizzeria in Forest Hills, Pennsylvania, in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Founded in 1952 by Vincent Chianese, it became associated with the early popularization of pizza in a locality where the food was not yet familiar to many residents. Chianese had originally trained as a tailor, but in 1950 he traveled to San Francisco to learn pizza-making from his uncle. After his uncle sold his pizzeria, Chianese returned to Pittsburgh and began selling pizzas at an auction before establishing Vincent's Pizza Park. The restaurant's identity is built around a distinctive house style commonly called the Vinnie Pie. The pizza is characterized by a thick crust, generous toppings, substantial size, and a notably greasy profile. Pizzas are offered in 9-inch, 11-inch, and 19-inch sizes, with the largest pies often producing leftovers. The restaurant has also been known for serving its pizza on cardboard covered with sheets of paper rather than in a conventional takeout box. These practices, together with the restaurant's longstanding refusal to offer delivery, limited advertising, or regular lunch service, have contributed to its reputation as an idiosyncratic local institution rather than a standardized chain operation. Vincent Chianese became part of the restaurant's public image. Accounts of the business have described him as an outsized and sometimes off-color personality who was frequently seen cooking while smoking a cigarette. His personal manner and highly recognizable working style helped turn the restaurant into a piece of Pittsburgh-area food culture, although they are also part of the business's unconventional folklore. Chianese died in 2010 at the age of 85. The restaurant has historically concentrated on pizza and has experienced particularly strong demand during Pittsburgh Steelers football games, when many pizzas may be baked at the same time. It has also been known to ship pizzas overnight to customers elsewhere in the United States, extending its reach beyond its immediate neighborhood despite its local-restaurant format. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Vincent's donated more than 140 pizzas to frontline workers. Vincent's Pizza Park faced a closure in 2012 amid rent, franchise, and royalty issues. A proposed sheriff's sale was subsequently withdrawn. Following renovation, the restaurant reopened in 2013 under the direction of Chianese's daughter, Toni Zollner, and continued operating. Its cultural profile has extended into fiction and screen media: the restaurant and Chianese were associated with the 1998 film Dominick and Eugene, the restaurant appeared in Philipp Meyer's 2009 novel American Rust, and it was featured in the 2015 Pittsburgh horror television series It's Alive. These appearances reinforce its status as a recognizable Pittsburgh landmark and a local restaurant with a distinct regional mythology.
History
Vincent's Pizza Park originated in the Pittsburgh area through the efforts of Vincent Chianese, whose career path initially pointed toward tailoring rather than food service. In 1950, Chianese traveled to San Francisco to learn pizza-making from his uncle. When that uncle later sold his pizzeria, Chianese returned to Pittsburgh with the skills he had acquired. He first sold pizzas at an auction and, in 1952, established Vincent's Pizza Park. The restaurant emerged at a time when pizza was not yet a familiar food to many people in the surrounding community. Its early history therefore involved introducing a relatively new style of food to local customers as well as building a sustainable neighborhood business. Over time, the pizzeria became identified with Chianese himself. He was described as a larger-than-life figure with an unconventional demeanor and was often seen cooking while smoking a cigarette. This behavior became part of the restaurant's folklore and helped distinguish Vincent's from more formal or standardized restaurant operations. Chianese died in 2010 at the age of 85. The central product of the business is the Vinnie Pie, a large, thick-crusted pizza with abundant toppings and considerable grease. The restaurant offers 9-inch, 11-inch, and 19-inch sizes. The large format and heavy topping profile are important parts of the restaurant's identity, and customers commonly have leftovers. Vincent's has also maintained unusual service traditions, including placing pizzas on cardboard covered with paper rather than using a conventional takeout box. The business historically did not provide delivery, did not advertise extensively, was not open for lunch, and at some points sold little besides pizza. Vincent's has remained closely tied to Pittsburgh sports culture. Its busiest periods include Pittsburgh Steelers football games, when approximately 20 pizzas may be baked simultaneously. Although primarily a local restaurant, it has also been known to ship pizzas overnight across the United States. The restaurant's regional reputation has been reinforced by appearances in popular culture. Chianese and Vincent's Pizza Park appeared in the 1998 film Dominick and Eugene. The restaurant was also featured in Philipp Meyer's 2009 novel American Rust and in the 2015 Pittsburgh horror television series It's Alive. The business encountered a serious operational and financial challenge in 2012, when it closed over issues involving rent, franchising, and royalties. A sheriff's sale was proposed but the request was withdrawn. The premises were renovated, and the restaurant reopened in 2013 under Chianese's daughter, Toni Zollner. This transition preserved the establishment as a family-associated independent pizzeria rather than ending the brand. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Vincent's donated more than 140 pizzas to frontline workers. The restaurant is recognized as an iconic Pittsburgh-area establishment and a landmark of Forest Hills.
- 2020
Pandemic pizza donations
[1]The restaurant donated more than 140 pizzas to frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2015
Featured in It's Alive
[1]Vincent's Pizza Park appeared in the Pittsburgh horror television series It's Alive.
- 2013
Reopening after renovation
[1]The pizzeria reopened following renovation under Toni Zollner.
- 2012
Temporary closure
[1]The restaurant closed amid rent, franchise, and royalty issues; a proposed sheriff's sale was withdrawn.
- 2010
Death of founder Vincent Chianese
[1]Founder Vincent Chianese died at the age of 85.
- 2009
Referenced in American Rust
[1]The restaurant was featured in Philipp Meyer's novel American Rust.
- 1998
Appears in Dominick and Eugene
[1]Vincent Chianese and the restaurant appeared in the film Dominick and Eugene.
- 1952
Vincent's Pizza Park is founded
[1]After returning to Pittsburgh and selling pizzas at an auction, Chianese founded Vincent's Pizza Park.
- 1950
Chianese learns pizza-making in San Francisco
[1]Vincent Chianese traveled to San Francisco to learn how to make pizza from his uncle.
Products and positioning
A highly traditional, independent Pittsburgh-area pizzeria positioned around oversized, heavily topped pizza, informal service conventions, neighborhood heritage, and a distinctive founder-led identity.
Pizza
Vinnie Pie
Vincent's signature pizza style is known for a thick crust, generous quantities of toppings, and a notably greasy character. It is sold in 9-inch, 11-inch, and 19-inch sizes, with the largest version often large enough to leave customers with substantial leftovers. The restaurant's presentation is also distinctive: pies have traditionally been placed on cardboard covered with paper sheets rather than put into a standard takeout box.
Brand decisions
2013
Family-led reopeningStrategyBackground
After the 2012 closure and subsequent renovation, the business required a new operating arrangement.
Action taken
Toni Zollner, daughter of founder Vincent Chianese, reopened and operated the restaurant.
Aftermath
The establishment continued as an active, family-associated Pittsburgh-area pizzeria.
2012
Closure during rent, franchise, and royalty disputeOtherBackground
The restaurant faced rent, franchise, and royalty issues that led to its closure and a proposed sheriff's sale.
Action taken
The sheriff's sale request was withdrawn, and the premises were subsequently renovated.
Aftermath
Vincent's Pizza Park reopened in 2013 under Toni Zollner.
Recent events
- 2020
Vincent's donates pizzas to frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic[1]
Other
The restaurant donated more than 140 pizzas to frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2013
Vincent's Pizza Park reopens after renovation[1]
Other · Leadership change
Following renovation, the pizzeria reopened under the direction of founder Vincent Chianese's daughter, Toni Zollner.
- 2012
Vincent's Pizza Park closes amid rent, franchise, and royalty issues[1]
Other
The restaurant closed during a dispute involving rent, franchise, and royalty issues. A proposed sheriff's sale was later withdrawn.
Sources1 sources
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