Today, a fire swept through Ianni's Pizzeria in Delmont, Westmoreland County, causing significant damage. The local mainstay for pizza lovers bore the brunt of the blaze around 4 a.m. at its Freeport Street location, according to reports from WPXI. Firefighters were to quickly respond to the scene, where they found smoke billowing and damage evident along the roof line of the establishment.
This incident plunged the business into an uncertain future escape, as the restaurant owners, taking to Facebook, expressed their heartbreak over the incident. "We are heartbroken but we need to thank God that no one was hurt. We are so... blessed to know we have such an amazing community that we call family standing behind us. We are in utter shock and exhausted," the owners shared in a post, as detailed by WPXI. Yet, amidst the ashes, they are harboring hopes to reopen the pizzeria soon.
While the cause of the fire remains under active investigation, the community focus has also been drawn to the pizzeria's recent spotlight. Wesley Harris, the owner of Ianni's, had the honor of hosting Barstool Sports' founder Dave Portnoy for his One Bite Pizza review series. The visit garnered attention and, perhaps, an affirmation of the pizzeria's standing in the regional culinary scene. "This is what I expect of a Pittsburgh street," Portnoy noted about Delmont, according to a CBS News report. He found the wood-fired style and slice size at Ianni's to be unexpected yet worth the tasting experience.
Details about the fire's cause are still unclear, but updates are expected as investigators work on it.
