Rizzos Pizza

Our Story

Rizzo’s Pizzeria was established in 1981 with nothing more than a family and a dream. Sherrie Rossi left Michigan with her family, following her husband’s various transfers within his corporate career, and headed West. Once in California, Sherrie and her husband, Chuck, settled roots in the city of Torrance with their four children. Filling a need for extra income and a place to keep an eye on their teenage kids, Rizzo’s Pizzeria was born.

Getting the restaurant established was not an easy feat, as even in the progressive state of California, you did not see many female business owners. Investors were few and far between and finding vendors to start based on credit was near impossible. Operations were so small in the beginning, the staff was simply the couple, their children, & a few of their children’s friends. Memories of the family often included leaving school or work to pass out menus door-to-door on foot or bike as the only means of marketing; slow and steady was the goal.

Rizzo’s became a local favorite for the city of Torrance, generating quality food drawn from Sherri’s restaurant background. Recipes for the sauces, dough, & pastas were all inspired by Sherrie herself and her experience in kitchens along their journey. She always enforced that “fresh is best,” by ensuring that dough was made, sauce was crafted, vegetables were sliced, and cheese was shredded daily. The recipes have remained unchanged and these practices are still in place.

Today, Rizzo’s Pizzeria is still tried and true family owned. Sherrie’s children and grandchildren run daily operations while her husband checks in on things every weekend. Though Sherrie is no longer with us, her vision of a family friendly restaurant that is community and relationship driven is something her family is rooted in and strives for daily. Rizzo’s Pizzeria’s mission is to provide a fresh product, with a warm smile, and an open heart. The support of our patrons and community is invaluable and we strive daily to produce products that give back through taste and thought.