West Michigan's first pizza place could also be its best

It was the first pizza place to exist in West Michigan. But is it still worth the trip?
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[@HotBluesinGRMichiga1]

Actually, and to clarify WZZM's reporting and far too many misleading and false statements that appear in numerous news outlets, Fricano's Tavern of Grand Haven is owned by the families of the original founders and brothers, Tom and Gus Fricano. They mutually owned the facility, which was simply a bar with a very limited bar food menu, prior to even contemplating serving the first pizza. In the early 1950's, pizza was un-heard of in Grand Haven, or almost all Michigan for that matter, and that Italian food was just gaining traction in larger metropolitan areas. The idea of pizza came during a trip by Tom and Gus to Chicago where they were exposed to it during a day trip to a Chicago Cubs baseball game. When they returned to Grand Haven, several months were spent in their Mother's kitchen and with her Sicilian heritage (and also being a great cook:-), and through many trials and tweaks, the recipe that makes Fricano's Pizza very special to this day was developed. Initially, Tom and Gus had a single oven that could only bake one 10" pizza at a time. Because in that time period very few had even heard of pizza, they would bake one periodically during business hours and distribute pieces among customers free of charge. Slowly, customers not only became aware of what pizza was all about but began ordering them as their primary dinner item. 10" pizzas turned to 12" pizzas with ovens now able to bake multiple pizzas simultaneously and the rest, as they say, is history. To this day, although both brothers are no longer with us, that wonderful recipe has remained unchanged and is still served with pride at the now multiple locations in western Michigan. Visit them today and you will be served a pizza unique to those served only at Fricano's...a recipe we were proud of then and still are to this day. This is exactly how this legendary pizza began and I have unique insight as to the above's complete accuracy as I am very proud to be the eldest son of my Dad, co-founder, Tom Fricano.

[@zombieheadshot01]

Wow, that was great to learn, especially from a first hand source!

[@Y2.903]

Wonderful pizza at fricanos you can't beat authenticity

[@blairnelson2872]

There is no way that is the best pizza

[@waxman9550]

Scribbs is way better , also Clover Bar Grand Haven. Fracano's is third. But I've also never had the Grand Haven one - Just Alpine.