Gennaro Lombardi

Gennaro Lombardi (August 6, 1887–November 24, 1958) was an Italian immigrant who moved to the United States in 1904.

[2][3][4] The traditional story holds that Lombardi opened a small grocery store in New York City's Little Italy.

An employee of his, fellow Italian immigrant Antonio Totonno Pero, began making pizza for the store to sell.

[2] Gennaro Lombardi came to the United States for the first time in November 1904 at age 17, classified as a laborer.

[10] New York city directories also list a different pizzeria (Giovanni Albano’s at 59½ Mulberry St.) already open in 1894.