U.S. Pizza Team member Rico Lunardi has a couple of special occasions to celebrate in early July 2023: Not only is he opening the sixth location of his Slice on Broadway chain in the Pittsburgh area, he’ll also ring in the company’s 13th anniversary system-wide.

Lunardi fulfilled a personal dream when he opened Slice on Broadway on July 6, 2010. Surviving and growing for 13 years is a testament to the quality of his food and the strength of his brand.

Slice on Broadway has locations in Beechview, Carnegie, East Liberty, Wexford, South Side Works and its newest addition, Slice on Broadway Robinson. The Robinson location opens on July 6 in Robinson Town Center.

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To celebrate the anniversary, Slice is offering $13 large, one-topping pizzas all day July 6 at every location and will also give away gift cards and merchandise at the Robinson location.

Slice on Broadway’s original location opened in Beechview. It quickly became a popular, award-winning local pizza shop. In 2020, during the pandemic, Lunardi competed in the U.S. Pizza Team’s Virtual U.S. Pizza Cup and placed third out of 20-plus competitors. In 2021, he returned to the contest and grabbed first place, securing his spot on the USPT.

In 2023, Slice on Broadway placed in the top five nationally and top three in the Northeast Region competitions at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas, competing against pizza shops from across the country.

In a recent interview with PMQ’s Brian Hernandez, to be published in the August 2023 issue of PMQ Pizza, Lunardi discussed his approach to growing the Slice on Broadway brand. “My game plan is ever-changing,” he said. “Slow and steady may seem like the plan a lot of the times, but I have been known to put the cart before the horse and get ahead of myself. But if I see the opportunity and it makes sense, I will take it, even if we’re not exactly ready for it.”

He added, “Everything in your business should be personal at some level, but you must be able to step outside yourself and ask, ‘Does this make sense for the business?’ Having a plan helps inform that decision.”

In a press release about Slice on Broadway’s 13th anniversary, Lunardi said he likes to keep the menu simple, focusing “mainly on a few items to guarantee freshness of product and creativity. We serve New York-style pizza with a crispy and fluffy crust, flavorful sauce and quality toppings.”

At every location, Slice on Broadway embeds itself in the neighborhood, donating to local schools, events and charities, he said. “We are excited to now be part of the Robinson area and are looking forward to making a lasting relationship with the Robinson community through pizza,” Lunardi said. “For the past 13 years, we have prided ourselves on the relationships we have made and the experiences we have had with the customers we meet and are excited to continue to expand Slice on Broadway in the region.”