The pizza lucs Story That Started It All
Pizza luce was born in 2012 from a simple belief: that pizza luce should be made with real passion, real ingredients, and real love. Our founder Marco Delucca grew up watching his grandmother hand-roll dough in a sun-soaked kitchen in Naples, and he carried those lessons across the ocean to Charlottesville, Virginia.
What began as weekend pop-ups at the local farmers market quickly grew into a full restaurant as word spread about our authentic pizza lucs style and generous portions. The community embraced us from day one, and we've been paying that love forward ever since.
"We don't just make pizza — we carry on a tradition of gathering people together around something delicious, honest, and made with care."
Today, Pizza luce serves thousands of guests each month across dine-in, takeaway, and delivery — but our soul hasn't changed. Every luce pizza that leaves our kitchen is crafted the same way it was on day one: by hand, with heart.
Explore Our Menu
Our Core Values
Fresh Ingredients
We source locally and seasonally, partnering with Virginia farms to bring the freshest produce to your plate.
Made With Love
Every pizza is hand-stretched, topped generously, and baked to perfection with the care of a family recipe.
Community First
We give back to the Charlottesville community through local events, sponsorships, and charitable partnerships.
Sustainable Kitchen
From compostable packaging to energy-efficient ovens, we're committed to a greener tomorrow.
How pizza luce Grew
From a single stone oven to a full restaurant, every milestone has been shaped by our community.
First Oven, First Slice
Marco Delucca fires up his first wood-burning oven in a Charlottesville garage, serving neighbors and family with his grandmother's Neapolitan pizza lucs recipe.
Opening Our Doors on 2nd Street
After two years of packed farmers market stands, Pizza luce opens its first brick-and-mortar restaurant at 110 2nd St NW — and the line stretches around the block on day one.
Best Pizza in Charlottesville Award
The Charlottesville Weekly names Pizza luce "Best Local Pizzaluce" — an honour we've maintained for four consecutive years, thanks entirely to our loyal guests.
Online Ordering & Delivery Launch
We launched our delivery service and online ordering platform, bringing pizza luce directly to thousands of homes across the United States. Our customers have since placed over 100,000 online orders.
Growing With Our Community
Pizza luce continues to expand its menu, catering services, and community partnerships — while staying true to the hand-crafted, ingredient-first ethos that started it all back in 2012.
Meet Our Team
Behind every great pizza luce is an even greater team. Say hello to the passionate people who make it happen.
Marco Delucca
The heart behind pizza luce. Marco trained in Naples and brought his family's century-old dough recipe to Charlottesville.
Sofia Reyes
Sofia keeps everything running like a well-oiled pizza oven. From sourcing to service, nothing misses her sharp eye.
James Whitfield
James has perfected the art of the perfect crust — crispy on the outside, pillowy inside, and never the same twice.
Ava Chen
Ava connects Pizza luce with the Charlottesville community through events, partnerships, and our beloved monthly pizza nights.
Love what we do? Come join the team.
Get In Touch