FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Nearly a year after opening its doors, a Windy City staple will finally cut the ribbon at its first Summit City location. Giordano’s, home to Chicago’s famous stuffed deep dish pizza, opened its first Fort Wayne store at 10180 Diebold Rd. in late October 2020, but grand opening festivities were put on hold due to the pandemic. The celebration is scheduled to go forward Sept. 30, starting with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m.
Giordano’s offers deep dish pizza, sandwiches, pasta, salads, and more, featuring the highest quality ingredients. The company’s mozzarella cheese is specially produced in Wisconsin using milk from local farmers, then freshly shredded in house every day. Giordano’s pizza sauce is prepared each day using world-renowned tomatoes grown in California’s Mendocino County.
While the Fort Wayne location is family-owned and -operated, leaders are well-versed in the Giordano’s standard of fresh ingredients and exceptional quality. Tom Fife, an Indiana native, was the director of franchise operations at Giordano’s corporate office for nearly nine years, and Russell Bry served as Giordano’s executive chef beginning in 2012. Both decided to leave the corporate world and become franchisees.
“We believe strongly in the Giordano’s brand and quality pizza,” Fife said. “The recipe for Giordano’s famous stuffed pizza is one that evolved over the course of 200 years, and we’re thrilled to bring it to Fort Wayne for the first time.”
The Fort Wayne store represents an investment of about $3.8 million and includes about 60 new jobs. It is the company’s fourth location in the Hoosier state; the three others are in the Indianapolis area.
In coming years, Fife and Bry hope to open two more Giordano’s locations in Fort Wayne, employing a total of 120 people. They also anticipate opening two stores in the South Bend area.
The public is invited to this celebration, which is scheduled to run from 2-4 p.m. on Sept. 30. Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry and Giordano’s CEO Yorgo Koutsogiorgas are expected to be in attendance. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees will be invited to enjoy complimentary samples of pizza, Giordano’s famous chop salad, and non-alcoholic beverages. A cash bar will also be available.
About Giordano’s
Based in Chicago, Giordano’s Famous Stuffed Deep Dish Pizza has been serving its world-famous pizza since 1974, when founders and immigrant brothers Efren and Joseph Boglio introduced their mother’s stuffed pizza recipe to Chicago. Becoming one of the originators of what is now internationally known as Chicago-style stuffed pizza, Giordano’s currently operates restaurants in the Midwest, as well as in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and Nevada, and is also available for shipping anywhere in the continental United States by visiting giordanos.com.
About Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc. serves Fort Wayne and Allen County, Indiana, as its primary point of contact for economic growth. GFW Inc. focuses on prosperity and community vibrancy through economic development, advocacy, programs, and resources that support business success, leadership development, graduate retention, and community engagement.
