For those familiar with Chicago-style pizza, it’s not always about deep dish. Whether it be a thin crust or a monstrous deep dish pie, Anthony “Rocco” DiGrazia knows his pizza.
Raised on the south side of Chicago, he went after a degree in anthropology in Champaign before relocating to Tucson in 1992 to pursue graduate studies in archaeology — the study of digging up the past so that we understand cultures. Well, archeology didn’t pan out but the pizzas sure did!
In the late ’90s, a restaurant space that was formerly El Pollo, and another restaurant named Manhattan Grill, was on the market and Rocco’s Little Chicago Pizzeria officially opened for business.
Anniversary Special
On Tuesday, December 26, Rocco’s is celebrating its 25th anniversary at 2707 E. Broadway Blvd.
Beginning on Tuesday, December 26, Rocco’s will have a $25 deal to celebrate its anniversary. For a full week, they’ll be offering a large, thin, one-topping pizza and a double house salad for $25 (dine-in and to-go). Stop by, say hi, give the team a big congrats, and chow down on the deal that’s only around for a week.
More Than Just Pizza
A few years ago — 2018, to be exact — Rocco’s got a feature on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” The spiky-haired dude with bleached tips, Guy Fieri stopped by the Old Pueblo and chomped on the legendary wings at Rocco’s. To many, their a top wings spot in Tucson even though pizza is the focal point.
Give their pasta and appetizers a bit of your time, too. The Spicy Hot Sticks are one of my favorite appetizers in town — spicy sauce twirled up in dough. I typically dip them in ranch dressing but if you’re vegan, ask for a side of pizza sauce.
On the Move
Some things have changed since then (like a nifty new parking lot that’s shared with Zemam’s) and the future is bright for the pizza joint. Soon, Rocco’s and company will be moving just down the street on Broadway, AKA Sunshine Mile, and into The Sol Block, which is located between Tucson Boulevard and Treat Avenue.
The strip will include Rocco’s, The Broadway (the sister concept to Caps & Corks), Decibel Coffee, and more. The new location is expected to have a bigger bar, more tables, a wider patio area, and a more spacious kitchen to allow DiGrazia to keep making his iconic pizzas.
Rocco’s Little Chicago is located at 2707 E. Broadway Blvd. For more information, visit roccoslittlechicago.com and follow Rocco’s on Facebook and Instagram.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
