Steel City Tradition, Abruzzo Roots, and 1,000 Pizzas for the Steelers with Sciulli’s Pizza | Ep 79

If you’ve spent any time in Oakland or around Pittsburgh over the last four decades, today’s guest needs absolutely no introduction. They are a true Steel City institution, family-owned, family-operated, and the definition of Pittsburgh pizza tradition since 1980 🖤💛. In this episode of the Pizza Story Podcast, host Erica D'Arcangelo sits down with Eutimio Sciulli from Sciulli’s Pizza 🍕! Erica and Eutimio dive deep into what it really means to have pizza in your blood. Eutimio shares his memories of growing up in the shop from age 5, spending every summer helping his uncles while other kids went on vacation. They uncover an incredible parallel between their two families, both tracing their roots straight back to neighboring towns in the Abruzzo region of Italy and building a life in Western Pennsylvania through grit, coal mines, steel mills, and pizza dough 🇮🇹. Eutimio takes us on a journey through the shop's history, from its origins as a late-night college joint to the turning point in 2012, when he pitched local universities and hospital systems to secure massive bulk orders. He breaks down the debate over Pittsburgh pizza, the meaning of a Sicilian "cut" (*taglio*), and why he refuses to change the shop's nostalgic wooden paneling and bright orange booths. Plus, he shares the unforgettable story of how an anonymous call from the Pittsburgh Steelers during the height of COVID turned into a 1,000-pizza order for frontline healthcare workers 🏈. Grab a cut and tune in for an authentic, heart-filled story about carrying on a family legacy, honoring the ancestors who sacrificed everything, and keeping the community fed 🙌🏽. 🎙 Episode Highlights & Timestamps ✅ 01:36 – Working Since Age Five: Eutimio’s childhood in the pizza shop alongside his brother and uncles. ✅ 02:23 – Small Town Abruzzo Connections: Discovering shared family roots in the province of Chieti, Italy. ✅ 03:21 – Sacrifices of 1955: Eutimio’s grandfather leaving Italy for ten years to build a future in Steel Country. ✅ 05:46 – Pittsburgh Style vs. New York vs. Sicilian: Why it's called a "cut" (*taglio*) and what makes a great pie. ✅ 08:08 – Sciulli’s History in Oakland: Serving students at Pitt, Carlow, Duquesne, and CMU since 1980. ✅ 10:04 – Passing the Torch: Choosing the family trade over college and stepping up to run the business. ✅ 12:10 – Pitching Corporate Accounts: How walking into offices with fresh pies changed the game. ✅ 14:52 – The Steelers Miracle: Delivering 1,000 personal pizzas to frontline hospital workers during COVID. ✅ 17:14 – The Oldest Small Business in Oakland: $5 student pies, retro vibes, and feeling the presence of family every day. ✅ 19:58 – The Perfect Slice: Sweet sauce, salty cheese, a golden bottom, and zero flop. 🔗 Connect with Sciulli's Pizza Instagram: @sciullispizza Website & Merch: www.sciullispizza.com 🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast Step behind the counter and into the craft with the people who turned a passion for pizza into a lifestyle. We're sharing the untold stories, deep-rooted traditions, and authentic history behind the best pies in the world, one slice at a time. 🎧 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment below with your favorite style of pizza ♥️! Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/  Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza  A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993  Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/  Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm\_pap\_swatch\_0 Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/  #pizza #pittsburgh #pittsburghpizza