After 40 years on the same corner, Syracuse pizza maker says ‘It’s time for me to go’

Secret Wings of CNY: Pizzaz Pizza

Mark Hordies with his daughter Melissa at Pizzaz Pizza in Syracuse. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)Charlie Miller

Syracuse, N.Y. — The price of the first 16-inch pepperoni pizza Mark Hordies sold was $3.75. He was 17 years old when he got into the pizza business.

For the past 40 years, he’s twirled the homemade dough and shredded his own mozzarella at Pizzaz Pizza, his family-owned shop in Syracuse’s Valley neighborhood at 1916 South Ave. His ingredients have remained the same since he slipped his first pizza in the oven.

“But it’s time for me to go,” Hordies said Friday. “I’m old and tired, and this is a good time to call it a day.”

He’s turning 66 next week and said he’s ready to retire and enjoy life.

His “corporate year” ends on Jan. 31, but his pizzeria has been closed on Mondays and Tuesdays since he reopened after the Covid-19 pandemic. He will serve his last pizza next Sunday, Jan. 29.

That said, running the business has been difficult since the pandemic. It’s been hard finding people to work and even more difficult to find delivery drivers. He was forced to turn to DoorDash and Uber Eats to deliver his pizzas to customers. Those services take a chunk of his profits. That large pepperoni pizza is now $15.99 for pickup, more if you want someone to bring it to you.

“The help that I have had over the years and the help I have now have been great,” he said. “But it used to be a lot more fun since Covid. The pandemic changed everything.”

Hordies owns the building that houses his shop, located next door to Swallow’s Bar. The restaurant and building are not for sale, but he said he would consider offers.

Secret Wings of CNY: Pizzaz Pizza

Pizzaz Pizza in Syracuse sits next door to Swallow's Restaurant. The secret chicken wings of CNY. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)Charlie Miller

Hordies has served many of the same customers since he opened. Now he’s serving those customers’ children and grandchildren. He’ll be open 3 to 10 p.m. until next Sunday.

“I’d love to say goodbye to the people who’ve become my family over the years,” he said. “They’re the ones who’ve kept me wanting to come to work each day. Those are the people I’ll miss.”

Charlie Miller finds the best in food, drink and fun across Central New York. Contact him at (315) 382-1984, or by email at cmiller@syracuse.com. You can also find him under @HoosierCuse on Twitter and on Instagram. Sign up for his free weekly Where Syracuse Eats newsletter here.

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