This article was inspired by content originally published in USA Today
Introduction
DeCheco’s Pizzeria, a beloved Akron staple renowned for its signature white pizza and community roots, has just secured top honors voted Best Pizza in Akron and is set to open three new locations in Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, and Munroe Falls by the end of 2025 . For our diverse Pizza Magazine audience, this exciting news offers rich opportunitieswhether you’re savoring slices, supplying ingredients, or running a shop.
🍴 Enthusiasts: A Local Legend on the Rise
Loyal fans cherish the creamy white sauce and the story behind it adds flavor. Founder Shirley DeCheco, recovering from an ankle injury in 1993, pivoted from hairstyling to pizza baking, creating the iconic white pie that would define the brand. That craft narrative is prime for did-you-know features and pizza pilgrimages.
Pizza Pro Tip: Recreate DeCheco’s famed white sauce at home use a quality heavy cream base spiked with garlic, Parmesan, and a pinch of black pepper. A microplane grater (affiliate) helps release maximum flavor from hard cheeses.
For adventurous home chefs, bring Akron to your kitchen by using a stone-backed home pizza oven (affiliate) you’ll replicate that perfectly crisp, cheesy finish worthy of a white-pie pilgrimage.
🧂 Suppliers: Scaling for Demand & Authenticity
A tripling of locations means tripled ingredient needs. High-quality local sourcing has set DeCheco’s apart in Akron, and the same will be expected in Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, and Munroe Falls .
- Bulk dairy and cheese create affiliate links to artisanal mozzarella suppliers who offer large-format wheels.
- White sauce kits capture value by bundling garlic, cream, Parmesan, and basil in kits sold through cooking or ingredient platforms.
- Packaging: Think eco-friendly pizza boxes, branded foil liners, or insulated delivery bags a hidden loyalty touchpoint.
Suppliers should see DeCheco’s move as a signpost: local authenticity plus efficient supply chain scale equals success. Pitch ingredient bundles or co-branded packaging options (affiliate to foodservice tech providers) tailored for growing pizzerias.
🏪 Shop Owners: Lessons in Growth & Community
DeCheco’s expansion underscores a few key shop-owner strategies:
- Use Awards to Fuel Growth
Winning Best Pizza in Akron catalyzed this rollout Boost your own brand participate in local contests and proudly share the wins via social media and in-store signs. - Strategic Site Selection
Cuyahoga Falls (2900 State Road) and Hudson (178 W Streetsboro) are classic suburban growth zones. Apply this in your own market: do your research for underserved, pizza-loving pockets. - Preserve Brand Integrity
Founder story, signature recipes, and community ties are key. Standardize these across sites recipe training kits, branded décor, and consistent customer experience are non-negotiable. - Technology for Consistency
As units multiply, so does complexity. Invest in a robust POS system (affiliate links: Toast, Square for Restaurants) integrated with inventory management ensure white sauce flavor remains constant, no matter the location. - Marketing for Ribbon-Cuttings
Each new store opening is a PR event. Offer coupons via your POS, partner with community influencers, or run live pizza demos. Consider affiliate connections to services like OpenTable or SpotOn for easy booking and event tracking.
🎯 The Bigger Pizza Trend: Local Roots & Strategic Scale
DeCheco’s shows how authenticity and strategy make a compelling combo. As consumers crave both heartfelt stories and accessible convenience, pizza businesses must anchor in their local narrative while gearing up for expansion.
- Story-focused marketing resonates: feature founder anecdotes, white pizza “how it started/now” posts, local awards.
- Operational consistency matters: replicable recipes, trained staff, trusted supplier networks.
- Tech-enhanced agility helps: POS integrations, online ordering, delivery partnerships lay the foundation before scaling.
🧶 Affiliate Picks: Build Your Own DeCheco‑Style Setup
- Stone‑Backed Home Pizza Oven – For authentic heat and crust right in your backyard.
- Microplane Grater Set – Capture maximum flavor from fresh Parmesan and garlic.
- Bulk Mozzarella Wheel – Essential cheese for creamy white pies.
- Toast POS System Subscription – All‑in‑one ordering, inventory, and loyalty capture ideal for multi‑unit setups.
🍕 Final Slice
DeCheco’s Pizzeria isn’t just expanding it’s exporting a local legacy. For enthusiasts, ingredient lovers, and pizza operators alike, there’s much to savor: legend, learning, and carefully crafted scaling. Whether you’re biting into a white pie at a new Cuyahoga Falls location or unlocking white-sauce techniques at home, this is expansion done right anchored in flavor and community.
Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, and Pizza Magazine may earn a commission from purchases made through them.
