Sammy Perrella's Pizza & Restaurant

Some would say it all started more than 50 years ago in a small, rural town on Minnesota’s Iron Range. But those of us who knew Grandpa Sam say it all started with a hope and a dream. In the early 1950s, few people on Minnesota’s Iron Range even knew what pizza was. But when Sam Perrella, owner of a small café in Keewatin, heard stories from World War II veterans about favorite foods they’d discovered while serving in Italy, he decided to investigate. He spent a short time in Chicago (where he picked up on the idea of square cut slices), then – working with his wife Louise – they combined some traditional family recipes with their own special touches. Grandpa Sam moved his small café to the larger, neighboring town of Hibbing in 1954, and Sammy’s Pizza was born. During the next few years, he brought more and more family into the business, and later welcomed in the family of his best friend, Nick Jerulle. Over the years, the tastes and traditions of Sammy’s Pizza have gained an almost cult-like following, as devoted Sammy’s lovers have developed their own traditions around the pizza and the restaurants. Today it’s nice to know that three generations and more than 20,000,000 pizzas later, the popularity of Sammy’s Pizza is stronger than ever.