LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The wait is now over! DeLuca’s Pizza has officially opened its doors in Little Rock's Breckenridge Village.
The Hot Springs staple has skyrocketed in popularity over the past decade, thanks in part to a glowing review from Barstool Sports in 2023.
When the company held its recent One Bite Pizza Fest in New York, no company made a longer trip to be there than DeLuca’s.
Owner Anthony Valinoti said that the restaurant’s recent successes and the opening of the Little Rock location are surreal.
“It was just this little six table restaurant 11 years ago,” Valinoti described. “And if I told you that I'd be standing here today opening my second restaurant, I would have never believed it.”
However, that’s exactly what happened on Wednesday. Valinoti explained how the day could’ve never happened without support from both Arkansans and out-of-towners alike.
“This would have never worked anywhere but this great state of Arkansas,” Valinoti said. “It was the people that stood behind me for all those years in Hot Springs that came from all over. [Places like] Dallas, Houston, and Louisiana and every state surrounding us. They really, really started to make this kind of like a crazy cult following.”
That following includes many people from Little Rock who will surely be thrilled to have DeLuca’s a little bit closer to home.
It’s also not the only thing happening in Breckenridge Village.
According to JTJ Restaurants owner Jim Keet, his company has been helping to revitalize the area after it was hit by the March 2023 tornado.
“He's a legend in his own time,” Keet said of Valinoti. “And so we're just really excited about working with him.”
Deluca’s Pizza will now join what is officially considered an entertainment district, featuring several restaurants, with more coming soon.
One that has been garnering a lot of excitement is The Root Cafe, which Keet said should open in about 30 days or so.
Breckenridge Village will also feature a movie theater, outdoor entertainment area, and more.
“We have a vision,” Keet said, “Along with Hank Kelly of Kelly Commercial and other partners, to make this the showplace for Central Arkansas.”
Valinoti is happy to help with that— for him, the grand opening isn’t just a cause for celebration— it also means it’s time to get to work.
“No matter what you've done in the past, you're only as good as your last meal. And I take a lot of pride in what we do," Valinoti said. "We have a great team of people that understand what it is that we're trying to do here. And we're just trying to bring a great, fun restaurant to Little Rock for the people of Little Rock to enjoy.”
For more information on Deluca's Pizza in Little Rock, please click here.