Leon Gessi Pizza
A mainstay in Colorado Springs since 1973 Leon Gessi Pizza is a great place for good Pizza and good friends.
Having grown up in and around Colorado Springs I remember Leon Gessi Pizza from my high school days. Yes, I’m dating myself here but “back in the day” I used spend my lunch hour and sometimes my 5th hour that was free at Leon Gessi Pizza where for $2.25 I could buy 2 slices of cheese pizza and a coke or “2 and a coke“.
It was a popular lunch destination for hordes of high school teenagers who had cars or of friends who had cars and could make the 1.3 mile trip from Wasson High School to Leon Gessi. There would often be a line out the door at lunch time and the pizza creators behind the glass could be seen cranking out one pie after the other to meet the demand of hungry students and business professionals alike.
Last weekend one of my close friends that I met while in high school invited us out for pizza at the revered Leon Gessi. It was a trip down memory lane! Just walking in the place brought back many deep-rooted memories. The sights and smells evoked thoughts of hot rods, hair bands and friends I haven’t seen in years!
The restaurant is virtually the same as I remember it 20 years ago. However, since we were there for dinner, and maybe because we’re older now with families, we ordered whole pizzas instead of slices. Oh, yeah…and a pitcher of a sudsy adult beverage! The pizza is as good if not better than I remember and the atmosphere is simple but enjoyable. The New York Style pizza is somewhat unique in these areas considering all the chain restaurants and delivery huts and by my palate has them all beat by a mile.
After we finished our pizza last weekend perhaps a few seconds were spent visualizing my trip back to school and a 6th hour World History class with Mr., hmm…my memory fails me. But then the kids screamed and I glanced at my friend who has considerably less hair than he used to (at least on his head) and I was brought back to the present.
Despite all the years that have passed since I last had pizza there Leon Gessi is still doing it right! 2 and a Coke!
June 12th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
How random it was that I came across this article about my favorite pizza joint of all times. I’ve eaten pizza all around the world and Leon’s still has them all beat. Granted, some of my best memories are tied to that place and the hundreds of lunches between 1979 and 1985. “2 and a Coke” will forever evoke a smile and whenever I’m back in CSprings, I never fail to stop in and order the same. Haz - RJWHS 1985