National Pizza Week: Where To Find A Pie In And Near Brookline

BROOKLINE, MA — As National Pizza Week approaches, pizzerias in Brookline largely have faced the same financial difficulties as restaurants that specialize in other items during the coronavirus pandemic.

In many cases, pizza shops nationally have seen a sharp uptick in business as more people remain home to slow the spread of the virus. But not at Pizzeria Dante.

"It's been very difficult, business has been up and down," David Dragan, who owns Pizzeria Dante, said. "There's been no consistent flow of business at all."

Dante's, which is on Harvard Street in the JFK Crossing neighborhood was closed most of May, and when they reopened, they reopened with a bang, he said, adding that the neighborhood was really supportive. But since then there have been rushes then it dies down with no explanation. His restaurant used to rely on catering orders, from businesses, but with no businesses ordering lunch, it's cut into his margins.

"And that's what I've heard from a lot of people," he said. "We're hanging in there."

Locally owned pizza places in and near Brookline may offer specials during National Pizza Week, which runs Jan. 10-16 in 2021. But more than anything right now, it's a moment to go support your favorite pizza shop. If you can walk over and pick it up in person, rather than delivery, even better for them:

• Stoked Pizza —1632 Beacon St (Washington Square) *
• The Upper Crust Pizzeria— 286 Harvard Street 617-734-4900 (Coolidge Corner)
• Pizzeria Dante —415 Harvard St (JFK Crossing)
• Otto - 289 Harvard St (Coolidge Corner)*
• Prairie Fire -242 Harvard St. (Coolidge Corner)
• Veggie Crust - 8 Cypress St. (Brookline Village) *
• Village Pizza House - 312 Washington St (Brookline Village)
• Village Fare Pizza - 387 Washington St (Brookline Village)
• Pino's Pizza - 1920 Beacon St. (Cleveland Circle)
• T Anthony's - 1016 Comm Ave (Brookline/Boston line)
• Cafe Eilat - 406 Harvard St. (JFK Crossing)

* Indicates they have vegan pizza options.

It's not clear how National Pizza Week came to be, but it's always held on the second full week of January. The similar “National Pizza Day” is set for Feb. 9, according to the National Day Calendar.

Pizzerias have not been hit as hard by the pandemic as the restaurant industry across the country as a whole, statistics show. While 60 percent of pizza places have seen an increase in sales, 50 percent of those across the country that did see growth had an increase in sales by 16 percent or more, according to a special report from Pizza Today released in November.

An increased demand for delivery, which the industry already had a prime focus on, has mostly helped the nation’s largest pizza chains during pandemic-related stay-at-home orders.

Domino’s brought in the most money among pizza chains during the first half of 2020, generating $240 million in net income, a 30 percent increase from the previous year, Fortune reported, citing data from Bloomberg Intelligence. Papa John’s and Pizza Hut are among the others reporting the next highest financial gains during the pandemic.

Notably, they all generally have their own delivery.

Back in Brookline, the owner of Dante's and the wife of the owner of Stoked Pizza say third party delivery companies have helped get pizza to customers, but haven't helped their bottom line.

"We have been busy during COVID, but unfortunately it has been with third party delivery," said Meredith Byam, noting they didn't do delivery before the pandemic. "The decision to add the third party delivery was more due to an effort to keep our staff fully employed, versus profit."