When Did Pizza Delivery Start? - Salerno's Pizza (2024)

The convenience of having pizza delivered to your door wasn’t always available, so when did pizza delivery start? Believe it or not, the first pizza delivery can be traced back to the 1800s! Explore the history of pizza delivery, and then take advantage of this modern service when you order online from Salerno’s!

The First Pizza Delivery

The very first pizza delivery is attributed to Queen Margherita of Savoy in 1889. After traveling to Naples the queen fell ill and requested authentic Italian food from the region. Royalty at that time was not expected to go out and find the best meals, so the food had to be brought to them. Chef Raffaele Esposito answered the call and brought a custom creation to the queen: a pizza topped with mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes, to honor the Italian flag’s colors. The queen loved it so much, the recipe was eventually deemed the Margherita pizza, a name that holds true today!

When Did Pizza Delivery Start in the US?

Although Queen Margherita was the first one to receive a pizza delivered at home, it took much longer for the trend to extend to the masses. After World War II, American soldiers were dreaming of the pizza they enjoyed overseas, and as pizzerias grew in popularity, they started offering “take out” options that allowed customers to bring their pies home. Bigger cities such as New York City and Los Angeles started offering delivery services to customers in their immediate areas, and developed the perfect-sized pizza boxes to transport their pies safely.

It wasn’t until the 1960s that pizza delivery in the US really started to take off. This coincided with the growing availability of private vehicles in American homes, and soon, restaurant owners were training employees to be delivery drivers, guaranteeing that food would be delivered in 30 minutes or less.

The biggest surge in pizza delivery came in the late 1990s/early 2000s during the widespread adoption of internet access, making it easier than ever to get hot, tasty Italian delivered directly to home. Americans can’t get enough of online food delivery, and at Salerno’s, we pride ourselves on bringing Chicagoland customers delicious delivery everyday!

Order Pizza Delivery From Salerno’s!

Our menu is packed with anything you could ever want from a pizza delivery, including other Italian favorites such as pasta, entrees, and desserts! Our in-house delivery team knows our service areas of Chicago, Oak Park, Lyons, and Bolingbrook like the back of our hands, and we’ll be sure to show up at your door with a smile. Be sure to take advantage of our pizza and pasta specials!