Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Sets Burlington Opening Date

BURLINGTON, MA — Frank Pepe's Pizzeria said it will open its Burlington Mall location at 11 a.m. on June 10, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony with members of the Pepe family and Burlintgon town officials. It will be the second Massachusetts location and the 11th company-wide for the famed Connecticut pizzeria.

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana moved a step closer to opening its location in the Burlington Mall last month when officials from the pizza chain were on hand for the official lighting of the restaurant's coal-fired oven. The process of lighting and calibrating the oven takes three to four weeks, according to Gary Bimonte co-owner and grandson of Frank Pepe.

The original Pepe's, which claims to serve the best pizza in the country, opened in New Haven 1925 and billboards advertising that location are familiar to anyone who has driven the Boston-to-New York City run. The chain now has 10 locations, most of which are in Connecticut. In 2017, the Daily Mail awarded Frank Pepe's its Best Pizza In The Country accolade.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).