Maria Arozamena, Illustrations Editor

Just before opening for lunch service, BAR was teeming with officials and business owners as pizza lovers gathered to celebrate National Pizza Day in the Pizza Capital of the United States.

New Haven, famous for its signature “apizza,” which is pronounced “ah-beetz,” has at least more than 63 pizza-serving establishments, the most popular of which — Frank Pepe’s, Sally’s and Modern — date back to the early 20th century. The iconic apizza pies are characterized by their charred, chewy crusts due to the use of a coal-fired oven and are known for flavors ranging from a plain red sauce to white clam to mashed potato.

Last spring, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a native of New Haven’s traditionally Italian Wooster Square neighborhood, read a statement into the Congressional Record that declared New Haven home of “the best pizza in the country” and Connecticut “the pizza state.”

“There is something special about New Haven apizza … Personally, I believe it is the generation after generation of dedication to the craft,” the Congressional Record statement from DeLauro reads. “They have helped to establish a uniquely American culinary and cultural experience, making New Haven one of the most respected and recognized pizza destinations in the country.”

To express his gratitude, Michael Pollack of New Haven Pizza Club made an oversized throne for “Pizza Queen” DeLauro out of road signs that announced Connecticut as the “Pizza Capital of the World,” which can be viewed at the New Haven Pizza Club. Pollack, who founded the New Haven Pizza Club, has also designed a 9,000-pound pizza sculpture, which sits outside of Modern Apizza on State St.

New Haven’s pizza restaurants provide thousands of jobs and generate over $100 million in sales for New Haven every year, a press release from Mayor Elicker said. Pizza tourism and consumption are at an all-time high, the press release added, attracting more than two million customers each year to “both beloved local eateries and sought-after destinations for tourists from across the country and globe.”

With 63 pizza restaurants for a population of about 135,319, New Haven has a pizza restaurant for approximately every 2,147 residents. New York City, also renowned for its pizza, has 1,574 pizza restaurants across its five boroughs — according to a Health Department database — and approximately 8,804,190 residents, meaning it has around 1 pizza joint for every 5,593 people.

Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon recently released a report quantifying the impact of pizza on Connecticut’s economy, including in relation to the rest of the country. 

His special examination found that Connecticut has 1,376 pizza establishments and the highest density of pizzerias in the country, with nearly 80 percent being independently owned, compared to a national average of 43 percent. Scanlon estimated that Connecticut’s pizza restaurants generate around $600 million in annual sales, $45.66 million of which is collected by the state via tax revenue.

“Connecticut pizza isn’t just food, it’s a way of life,” Gov. Ned Lamont said at BAR. “From New Haven to Hartford to Mystic, our pizza culture is unmatched, and these initiatives will make sure the whole world knows it. This isn’t just about great sauce and slices – it’s about the stories, traditions, and rivalries that have made Connecticut the beating heart of America’s pizza culture.”

At Friday’s gathering, Lamont announced the launch of The Pizza Capital Trail, which will contain a statewide network of Connecticut’s best pizzerias, as determined by voters and food experts. Voting for the trail will open on Pi Day, March 14, and conclude May 1, with the trail set to kick off in late September.

Tweed Airport will also soon welcome an interactive fine art installation designed by Pollack and made entirely from Connecticut highway signs, as well as additional pizza-themed signage. The display will be at New Haven Pizza Club throughout February for visitors to sign and share their favorite Connecticut pizza spot before moving permanently to Tweed.

Additionally, Avelo Airlines is partnering with Taste of New Haven, a food and pizza tour company to offer $40 off roundtrip fares to New Haven along with $40 off Taste of New Haven’s popular pizza tours with the code “CTPIZZA.”

“New York can have its apple pie and New Jersey its pork roll, but in Connecticut, it’s all about pizza,” Colin Caplan of Taste of New Haven said. “Pizza, a multibillion-dollar industry, is not only a big part of our economy, but it has come to symbolize our state pride and our great taste. Here pizza is meant to be shared, and we can all share in the accolades these mom-and-pop restaurants have achieved.”

At the upcoming apizza fest in downtown New Haven every September, Caplan is leading an effort to break the Guinness World Record for the largest pizza party, with the State of Connecticut as the title sponsor of the attempt. 

National Pizza Day is celebrated annually on Feb. 9, which this year is also Super Bowl Sunday.