JACK'S PIZZA
52 South Pearl Street
Right Across From The Times Union Center
518-462-9313
Click the thumbnails below to view our menu (then click again to view in full size)!
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JACK’S STORY
Jack was born here in Albany in 1932; having been descended from some of Albany’s earliest settlers. During the Korean War he spent quite a bit of time overseas serving with the Air Force. Upon his return to Albany he had a difficult time finding his niche in life. He worked as a photographer, taxi driver and various other odd jobs before deciding to open a bar in the 1960’s. The bar was located across town near Bleecker Stadium and he named it after his Air Force regiment: The Tomcat.
Jack’s rowdy patrons were constantly complaining of rumbling stomachs and there was no fast food for several blocks. Jack decided to start making “mini pizzas†and serving them to his patrons to appease them. Needless to say the pizzas were a huge success. People started to come in not for a drink, but just for his pizza. After a time Jack decided that the pizza business was far more lucrative (and far less dangerous), so in 1972 he opened Jack’s Pizza on Delaware avenue at a small basement location. After the pizza shop took off Jack was able to open at a bigger location down the street, and now, 35 years later; our bigger, better location at 52 South Pearl.
Jack’s Pizza has won numerous accolades from his communities; including the Metroland Newspaper’s Best Pizza award in 2000, as well as the Hudson Park Neighborhood Association’s Best Pizza Award in the same year. Jack Himself is also known for his philanthropy, having sponsored Albany city little league teams and participating in the “Feed The Children†charity for the majority of his professional career as a pizza man.
Jack is now retired but the pizza lives on. The pizza shop is presently owned by Jack's long time love Deb; who has developed most of Jack's recipes and wing sauces (and who also grew up in the restaurant business-- her Dad ran The Miss Albany Diner on Central Ave for almost 20 years), and Chris; a graduate of Schenectady County Community College's famed culinary school. He is also Jack and Deb's son in law.
