Buccilli’s Pizza History
The Buccilli family was among the pioneers of the pizza industry in Michigan. The roots of Buccilli’s Pizza were established in the early 1950’s, in the Metropolitan Detroit area. Using an old family recipe, brothers Melio, Angelo, and Pasquali (Butsy) Buccilli, opened pizzerias in Madison Heights (Melio’s), Hazel Park (DeAngelo’s) and Clawson (Alvito’s). The popularity of the Buccilli brothers’ pizza soon became apparent when customers flocked to their restaurants.
It was 1951 when Melio hired his brother Butsy, who at the time was still in the construction business, to build Melio’s Heights Inn Pizzeria. After several months of planning, construction began, and in 1952 Melio’s was open for business at the corner of Eleven Mile Rd. & Stephenson Hwy in Madison Heights.
After Melio’s got off to a quick start, Angelo decided it was time for him to give up his trade as a ceramic tile layer. In 1953 DeAngelo’s opened in a small rented storefront on John R near Meyers in Hazel Park. DeAngelo’s quickly outgrew that building, and a couple of years later moved to a larger space on 9 Mile just east of John R. Outgrowing that building also, in the late 1950’s Angelo built a new restaurant, bar and catering hall on Dequindre between 9 and 10 mile roads to house DeAngelo’s.
Butsy’s last major project as a building contractor was to build Alvito’s. Named for the town in Italy where his parents were from, Butsy opened Alvito’s Pizzeria in 1957 on 14 Mile Rd just west of Main in Clawson, next to the then Ambassador Roller Rink. It was a marriage made in haven, roller skating and pizza in the 50’s!
In 1972, after selling Alvito’s, Butsy relocated to Harrison in northern Michigan and purchased a party store where he opened the first pizzeria under the Buccilli’s Pizza name. He continued to operate Buccilli’s Pizza in Harrison until his retirement in 1981.
Today, the second and third generations keep the Buccilli Pizza tradition alive, serving the same great pizza throughout northern Michigan. Pizza made, as it has been for years, using only vine ripened tomatoes in our pizza sauce, dough that is made fresh every day and 100% real cheeses to blend our pizza cheese.
So sit back, relax and enjoy. And from the Buccilli family, a heartfelt thank you for your patronage.