What the Beloved Pizza Institution Ledo Restaurant Meant to Maryland | Eater DC

"A Maryland landmark since 1955, the original Ledo Restaurant in College Park was a family-run institution known for its rectangular square pizzas with a flaky, pastry-thin crust, sweet sauce, light cheese and a focus on generous toppings—think chewy bacon placed on top just before baking, extra-thick-cut pepperoni, and specialty pies like the taco pizza topped with spiced beef, picante sauce, cheddar and smoked provolone, iceberg lettuce, and diced tomatoes. Over decades it became a second home for University of Maryland students, athletes, and alumni, hosting memorable nights such as Lefty Driesell’s post-banner celebration, serving celebrities from Frank Sinatra to the Rolling Stones, and feeding generations of employees and customers (Marcos Jr. says the restaurant employed more than 10,000 people and sold over 1 million pizzas, including 200,000 since 2015). Longstanding traditions included Driesell bringing pizza to reporters and teams enjoying staples like spiced shrimp, Italian-style egg drop soup, ham-and-pineapple, and cold leftover slices; fans praised the distinct sweet sauce, slightly greasy thin crust, and how the pies highlighted the middle over the corners. The original operation, run by the Marcos family after founders Tommy Marcos Sr. and Robert Beall opened the first spot in an Adelphi strip center, remained committed to higher-quality standards even after the chain split into franchises in 1989—Marcos Jr. and regulars lamented that some franchised locations watered down the original. Facing health issues after a 43-year tenure, Tommy Marcos Jr. sold the restaurant to a management group that plans renovations and a 2021 reopening, with Marcos offering to consult on recipes; for longtime patrons, the sale and his retirement mark the end of an era and the loss of a beloved community institution." - Eater