Dellas family will no longer run Varsity Pizza after 100 years
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After 100 years of operation by the Dellas family, Varsity Pizza will be turning over management to Brian and Renee Bruno starting Dec. 1, co-manager Jerry Dellas confirmed.
Since its 1926 opening, the Varsity has become a Syracuse University landmark — home to the SU marching band after a football game win, pizza slices during the school day and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s workplace during college.
“We thought the timing was right to be 100 years. It made sense to us,” Jerry told The Daily Orange. “We carried it to 100 years. To me, it has a little bit more meaning than 101.”
Before becoming a Syracuse pizza staple, Jerry’s grandfather bought the house that the Varsity’s storefront originated from. In 2001, Jerry took over the business from his 102-year-old father, Ted Dellas, with his cousin John Dellas. Now, the cousins will both retire.
The Brunos have owned Jamesville’s Brian’s Landing since May 2018. The pair will bring their restaurant’s manager, Jaclyn Tesori, and head chef, Tom McNerney, to oversee the Varsity’s day-to-day operations under their management.
Under new control, Jerry expects only “cosmetic changes” and nothing drastic. Jerry, who is now 73 and John, 71, believed it was time to retire.
Even when SU purchased the Varsity’s building in 2022 in a $12 million deal, along with other properties, the Varsity’s supervision remained under the Dellas family.
The Dellas family’s ownership extends beyond the walls of the Varsity. In 1978, Jerry and John opened Faegan’s Cafe & Pub, which is now owned by Ben Cook, while Jerry’s daughter, Meg Dellas, owns Water Street Bagel Co. downtown.
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Through its 100 year history, Varsity Pizza has become synonymous with Syracuse University culture, all while being run by the same family.
The cousins will stay in Syracuse, and if something breaks under the new ownership, the cousins assured the next generation of the Varsity that they will always be around to fix it.
Jerry believes the public won’t see any changes under the new leadership.
“I just hope it continues to be the Varsity set up with large tables for groups of people and family, just to all sit. I hope that remains,” Jerry said. “That’s just what the Varsity is. I mean, my God, 100 years. You know, you don’t need to change much.”
