A pizza
Benny Lorenzo's opening in Ohio City. Credit: Courtesy Photo

Benny’s Pizza, a Virginia-based pizza chain with dozens of locations in multiple states, is the latest corporate operation to plant roots in Ohio City. This week the company announced its plan to open a new location on West 25th Street, in a portion of the former Family Dollar space that was previously subdivided.

Founded in 2011 near the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, the restaurant is known for its massive 28-inch New York-style pies and slices. There are approximately 35 locations spread across Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan and Pennsylvania. The Ohio City location looks to be the first in the state.

Rather than branding every store as “Benny’s Pizza,” each location is given its own unique name, such as Benny DiCarta’s, Benny Pazerelli’s and Benny Mazzetto’s. The Cleveland spot will be called Benny Lorenzo’s.

The impending opening marks another shift in a neighborhood long known for its fiercely independent personality. Benny’s joins other outsized newcomers including Chipotle.

Attempts to reach a company representative for comment have not been successful.

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For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon's cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.