Flying Pizza Celebrating 50th Anniversary

It's not every day that a family can celebrate five decades of operating a small business, but the Graci family are planning a big celebration for the 50th anniversary of Flying Pizza in downtown Dayton at 223 N. Main Street.

Flying Pizza will hold a week-long celebration of the big 5-0 Monday, Sept. 27, through Friday, Oct. 1, with giveaways of t-shirts, sweatshirts, treats and 16 big-screen televisions! Anyone has the chance to get in the drawing for the TVs with a purchase at Flying Pizza by the end of the day on Friday, Sept. 24, said Flying Pizza owner Frank Graci.

Located in the same block of North Main Street since it opened in 1971, Frank Graci said he first starting slinging dough in the family business at age 14, alongside his father, John Graci. "We do one thing, and we do one thing right: pizza," Frank Graci said of their New York Style slices and pies.

During the week-long celebration, Flying Pizza will invite guests and business regulars to sign a banner that will be given to John Graci to mark the momentous occasion. Flying Pizza is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Grab a slice to enter the raffle drawings by 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24. Original owner John will be in attendance on Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for those who would like to congratulate him on the anniversary, Frank Graci said.

This coverage was powered by the Downtown Dayton Partnership through their Fast Facts newsletter.