Ledo Pizza
Pizza restaurant · College Park ·
Iconic square pizza with a unique flaky crust and Italian favorites
![Ledo Pizza by Ledo Pizza [official]](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66798225/Ledo.0.jpg "Ledo Pizza by Ledo Pizza [official]")
Iconic square pizza with a unique flaky crust and Italian favorites
"I felt the original Ledo Restaurant’s announcement that it would close in November marked the end of an era for legions of University of Maryland students and athletes; the owners later clarified they were selling the independent business to a hospitality management company that already oversees several franchises of Ledo Pizza." - Gabe Hiatt
"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
"An iconic Maryland pizza shop that has closed, noted as one of the recent pandemic-era shutdowns." - Amanda Kludt
"An iconic Maryland pizza shop known for its signature flaky, rectangular "Square Pizza" with a sweet sauce and beloved by University of Maryland students, musicians, and professional sports stars isn't closing after all: owner Tommy Marcos Jr., whose father co-founded Ledo in 1955, struck a deal to sell the original College Park business and recipes to Chesapeake Hospitality as he looks to retire amid health problems. Chesapeake, which already operates Ledo franchises, is finalizing a lease with the city and plans to keep the restaurant at 4509 Knox Road closed for four to six months for renovations, with Marcos offering to consult to help keep the beloved pizza the same. The Marcos family listed the business for sale in January 2020 and weathered a 1989 franchise split that left the family with the original shop while the Bealls grew a corporate chain of more than 100 locations; the original store, founded in Adelphi and moved to College Park in 2009 (leaving behind a location full of stained-glass lamps and photographs of famous visitors), has hosted celebrities from Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, and the Rolling Stones to sports legends like Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, and Yogi Berra, and was even featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show. It's a perfect place for families or gathering for lunch with friends." - Gabe Hiatt
"Yes, there’s such a thing as Maryland pizza. It’s a thin-crust square pie, because, as the radio jingle goes, Ledo’s “doesn’t cut corners.” The College Park restaurant is the original Italian pizzeria, but there are many franchises located across Prince George’s County too." - Tim Ebner