With an expansion into Willoughby, the Geraci family is serving up its iconic pizza by the slice

By Patricia Nugent

Though national pizza chains proliferate the landscape, the Geraci family has thrived over the past 66 years by doing things the way it always has—following grandma’s recipes that originated in a small village in Sicily, and only using the finest and freshest ingredients. There is no margin for compromise here. And once you taste a slice, you understand why.

How does a restaurant become iconic? By not interfering with its own greatness and honoring its rich past and authenticity.

Geraci’s opened its flagship pizzeria in University Heights in 1956, built a dynasty over the years by adding locations in Pepper Pike and Mayfield Village, and, this summer, expanded by opening Geraci’s Slice Shop at The Yard on 3rd in the heart of downtown Willoughby. The Yard is a novel concept—a family-friendly, dog-friendly indoor/outdoor bar and dining venue that celebrates all things local.

“Willoughby is a great fit for us,” says Bucky Spoth, who is the grandson of founders Michael and Frances Geraci. “People love ordering pizza by the slice in a quick-service manner while hanging out around the hustle and bustle of downtown.”

Honoring a Rich Heritage
“We’ve always seen ourselves as an old-fashioned neighborhood pizzeria,” says Bucky. “My grandparents met at the West Side Market where my grandfather would deliver produce there from the produce terminal and my grandmother’s family had a produce stand there. After marrying, they took a trip to Columbus to visit relatives who had opened a pizzeria, which was also the first time his grandparents had experienced one, and on the drive home made the decision to open one themselves. Most of our recipes come from my Sicilian great-grandmother. Grandma and Grandpa ended up working in the restaurant well into their 90s. My parents, Greg and Marti Geraci Spoth, took over the operation, and then, years later, so did my siblings and I.”

Bucky says that about 90% of their clientele are regulars who come in often, and that’s by design.

“We’ve always been mindful of preserving the vibe of our original restaurant,” he adds. “We’re like the Cheers of the neighborhood, a place where everyone knows your name. There are lots of folks who eat here two and three times a week. And being enmeshed in the community, the local schools and charities is also important to us.”

Becoming a Staple in the Community
As with all their other locations, Geraci’s aspires that the newest Willoughby location will become the go-to take out spot for families and residents of near by Lake County communities. “We pride ourselves on being family owned and operated and look forward to establishing relationships with customers in and around the area,” says Bucky. With a wide variety of menu items other than pizza; including pasta, salads and subs, Geraci’s has something for everyone.

On a local and regional level, Geraci’s pizza has garnered top honors, but it also attracted the attention of The Food Network and host Guy Fieri of the show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. “Guy said he admired our sense of nostalgia and how we see ourselves as a place for our customers to make memories throughout their lives.”

Best-seller pies include a double pepperoni pizza and a new spin on tradition, the Honey Pie, which is a pepperoni-sausage-Romano cheese variety drizzled with hot habanero pepper honey.

“No matter what the ingredients, we take great care in curating them, hand-shredding the cheeses, hand-cutting the meats, hand-tossing the dough and importing the best tomatoes from California. We’ve also evolved with the times and offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes.”

Geraci’s Slice Shop is located within The Yard on 3rd, at 38040 3rd Street in downtown Willoughby. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. You can order pizza, pasta, sandwiches and salads online at GeracisSliceShop.com or by calling 440-220-6347. Curbside pickup and delivery through Door Dash are also available.