Ledo Pizza
Encyclopedia
Ledo Pizza is a pizzeria
restaurant chain in the Southeastern United States
, with the heaviest concentration in Maryland
and Virginia
. Their first pizzeria was opened in Adelphi
, Maryland
, in 1955 on University Boulevard (Maryland Route 193
) in Adelphi Shopping Center near the University of Maryland, College Park
(38°59′5.5"N 76°58′1"W). The first franchise was granted to the Fireside Restaurant in Berwyn Heights, Maryland
, in 1979. Fireside Restaurant no longer exists. There are now over 80 restaurants in Ledo Pizza's home state of Maryland, Virginia
, North Carolina
, Georgia
, West Virginia
, Delaware
, and Florida
.
In 2008, Ledo Pizza was rated #31 on the Pizza Today Top 100 Companies list with 2007 gross sales of $84,000,000 from its 80 restaurants.
Ledo Pizza is rectangular in shape and is known for its very thin crust, sweet sauce, greasiness, thick pepperoni (one per slice; optional), and smoked provolone cheese, often using the tagline "Ledo Pizza is square, because we don't cut corners."
The real reason Ledo pizza is square - the abundance of rectangular pans. Round pizza pans of today were new in the 1950s. When the pizza industry embraced the round pan to cut costs, as the shape gave the illusion of more product when it was actually less, Ledo's stayed true to its roots and it became their trademark. .
While most of its restaurants do not offer delivery options, you can sit down and eat or carry out. When eating at the restaurant, customers are served by a waiter or waitress, rather than receiving the food over the counter. Also, Ledo offers many menu items, such as hamburgers, pasta, its own beer line (Ledo Lager), and more, in addition to specialty pizza types usually offered by pizza chains such as Pizza Hut
or Papa John's.
The restaurant chain has been called by several names, including Ledo Pizza and Ledo Pizza and Pasta.
The original location in Adelphi, Maryland
, at the Adelphi Shopping Center was established in 1955. The name on its website is "Tommy Marcos' Ledo Restaurant". The original location is not listed in the restaurant finder maintained by The Ledo Pizza System website. The omission from the chain's website may be related to a legal dispute between the Ledo chain and the Marcos family. Ledo Pizza was named among the best pizzas in America on the Oprah Winfrey Show. The same pizza based on the same family recipe is served at TJ Elliots in Bowie, Maryland, along with many of the other signature Italian-American and family dishes. TJ Elliots is owned and operated by Tommy and Jimmy Marcos.
In September 2009, the Marcos family announced that the original Ledo's restaurant would be moving a few miles from its original location to downtown College Park
. The original location closed in July 2010, and the new location opened for business on August 27, 2010.
Ledo's is the sponsor of the Mid-Atlantic Skateboard Series
. It is the largest amateur skateboard competition on the East Coast. Ledo's is also the official sponsor of the D.C. United
men's professional soccer team.
Pizza
Pizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
restaurant chain in the Southeastern United States
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
, with the heaviest concentration in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Their first pizzeria was opened in Adelphi
Adelphi, Maryland
Adelphi is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 14,998 at the 2000 census...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, in 1955 on University Boulevard (Maryland Route 193
Maryland Route 193
Maryland Route 193 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as University Boulevard and Greenbelt Road, the state highway runs from MD 185 in Kensington east to MD 202 in Greater Upper Marlboro...
) in Adelphi Shopping Center near the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
(38°59′5.5"N 76°58′1"W). The first franchise was granted to the Fireside Restaurant in Berwyn Heights, Maryland
Berwyn Heights, Maryland
Berwyn Heights is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,942 at the 2000 census. It is bordered by College Park to the west, Greenbelt to the northeast, East Riverdale to the southwest, and Riverdale Park to the south....
, in 1979. Fireside Restaurant no longer exists. There are now over 80 restaurants in Ledo Pizza's home state of Maryland, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
In 2008, Ledo Pizza was rated #31 on the Pizza Today Top 100 Companies list with 2007 gross sales of $84,000,000 from its 80 restaurants.
Ledo Pizza is rectangular in shape and is known for its very thin crust, sweet sauce, greasiness, thick pepperoni (one per slice; optional), and smoked provolone cheese, often using the tagline "Ledo Pizza is square, because we don't cut corners."
The real reason Ledo pizza is square - the abundance of rectangular pans. Round pizza pans of today were new in the 1950s. When the pizza industry embraced the round pan to cut costs, as the shape gave the illusion of more product when it was actually less, Ledo's stayed true to its roots and it became their trademark. .
While most of its restaurants do not offer delivery options, you can sit down and eat or carry out. When eating at the restaurant, customers are served by a waiter or waitress, rather than receiving the food over the counter. Also, Ledo offers many menu items, such as hamburgers, pasta, its own beer line (Ledo Lager), and more, in addition to specialty pizza types usually offered by pizza chains such as Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
or Papa John's.
The restaurant chain has been called by several names, including Ledo Pizza and Ledo Pizza and Pasta.
The original location in Adelphi, Maryland
Adelphi, Maryland
Adelphi is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 14,998 at the 2000 census...
, at the Adelphi Shopping Center was established in 1955. The name on its website is "Tommy Marcos' Ledo Restaurant". The original location is not listed in the restaurant finder maintained by The Ledo Pizza System website. The omission from the chain's website may be related to a legal dispute between the Ledo chain and the Marcos family. Ledo Pizza was named among the best pizzas in America on the Oprah Winfrey Show. The same pizza based on the same family recipe is served at TJ Elliots in Bowie, Maryland, along with many of the other signature Italian-American and family dishes. TJ Elliots is owned and operated by Tommy and Jimmy Marcos.
In September 2009, the Marcos family announced that the original Ledo's restaurant would be moving a few miles from its original location to downtown College Park
College Park, Maryland
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S...
. The original location closed in July 2010, and the new location opened for business on August 27, 2010.
Ledo's is the sponsor of the Mid-Atlantic Skateboard Series
Mid-Atlantic Skateboard Series
The Mid-Atlantic Skateboard Series is a skateboarding competition series started by former pro skateboarder Curt Kimbel. The series has been running every summer since 2003 and usually runs from July until late August. The series is meant to attract amateur skateboarders from all over the...
. It is the largest amateur skateboard competition on the East Coast. Ledo's is also the official sponsor of the D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
men's professional soccer team.