National Pizza Week: Where To Find A Pie In Waltham

WALTHAM, MA — As National Pizza Week draws to an end, it puts a spotlight on local Waltham pizzerias, which have largely faced the same financial difficulties as other restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic.

As pizza chains nationally see a sharp uptick in business as people stay home to slow the spread of the virus, the view is different at Pini's Pizza.

"It’s not been easy, I can tell you that," said Nick Nikolov who owns Pini's.

Pini's opened in 2001 on River Street. It was closed for a bit at the beginning of the pandemic, he said. Nikolov said he had two employees stay home, while he paid them before the federal grant money came in, mindful that he wanted to keep his staff. He also said he went for a stretch not paying himself in order to ensure his staff was taken care of. He said his restaurant used to rely on catering orders from businesses and schools, but with no businesses ordering lunch, it's cut into his margins "big time."

Between a drastic drop in lunch business, reduced seating capacity and an increase in the cost of cheese nationwide because of demand, it's been difficult.

"We’re trying to survive," he said, adding that he's not alone in that effort. "I've never seen anything like this."

Nikolov said he hopes residents know that his business, as with many others offer curbside pickup and urged people to take advantage of that or delivery.

"We do appreciate all our customers, encourage them to go local and try to help the small businesses in the area," he said.

Locally owned pizza places in and near Waltham may offer specials during National Pizza Week, which ends Jan. 16. But more than anything right now, it's an opportunity to go support your favorite pizza shop.

We asked Waltham what their top three spots to get pizza were and this is what they said:

• Pini's Pizza, River Street
• NY Pie - Moody Street
• Sal's Mobile -Trapelo Road

It's not clear how National Pizza Week came to be, but it's always held on the second full week of January. The similar “National Pizza Day” is set for Feb. 9, according to the National Day Calendar.

Pizzerias have not been hit as hard by the pandemic as the restaurant industry across the country as a whole, statistics show. While 60 percent of pizza places have seen an increase in sales, 50 percent of those across the country that did see growth had an increase in sales by 16 percent or more, according to a special report from Pizza Today released in November.

An increased demand for delivery, which the industry already had a prime focus on, has mostly helped the nation’s largest pizza chains during pandemic-related stay-at-home orders.

Domino’s brought in the most money among pizza chains during the first half of 2020, generating $240 million in net income, a 30 percent increase from the previous year, Fortune reported, citing data from Bloomberg Intelligence. Papa John’s and Pizza Hut are among the others reporting the next highest financial gains during the pandemic.