HARTFORD, CT — Connecticut has named the first 20 pizzerias that will form the foundation of its new statewide Pizza Capital Trail, a culinary mapping project of the Connecticut Office of Statewide Marketing & Tourism.
The tourism map is designed to highlight independent establishments through publicly distributed trail signage, marketing materials, and an upcoming interactive platform.
According to the Tourism Office, the list is compiled following more than 13,000 public votes over a six-week period, and it includes institutions such as Modern Apizza, Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, and Sally’s Apizza.
Additional locations will be added ahead of the full 100-stop trail scheduled for release this fall.
Participating pizzerias will appear on promotional collateral and digital trail assets but are not receiving technical assistance or financial provisions from the Department of Economic and Community Development.
“This is exactly what we hoped to see,” said Anthony Anthony, chief marketing officer for the Connecticut Office of Statewide Marketing & Tourism. “Yes, New Haven made apizza put our pies on the map, but this list shows that Connecticut’s passion for pizza runs statewide, from shoreline to the Notch, and everywhere in between.”
The campaign used an open-submission model, with residents and visitors nominating their preferred pizzerias. Top-ranked shops span both established and lesser-known municipalities, including West Haven, Derby, Willimantic, Mystic, Avon, and Cheshire.
According to state officials, the final trail with the official digital map will be launched in October, in time for the celebration of National Pizza Month. Then, a state-organized bus tour will follow, promoting stops across the trail.
The 20 top vote-getters, as released by the Office of Tourism, include:
- Modern Apizza, New Haven
- Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, multiple towns
- Sally’s Apizza, multiple towns
- Zuppardi’s Apizza, West Haven
- BAR, New Haven
- Roseland Apizza, Derby
- Tony’s Pizza, Willimantic
- Colony Grill, multiple towns
- Little City Pizza, Avon
- Domenic’s & Vinnie’s, multiple towns
- Pizzeria Marzano, Torrington
- Ernie’s Pizzeria, New Haven
- Little Rendezvous, Meriden
- Vero Cucino Rustico, Middletown
- Mangos Wood Fired Pizza Co, Mystic
- Pizza Palace & Restaurant, Old Saybrook
- Grand Apizza, multiple towns
- Mondo, Middletown
- Fuoco Apizza, Cheshire
- Est Est Est Pizza & Restaurant, New Haven
Similar trail models in other states, such as Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail and North Carolina’s Historic Barbecue Trail, have relied on nonprofit partnerships, or destination management organizations to help businesses prepare for increased exposure and visitor traffic.
The CT Tourism Office have said the other 80 pizzerias on the final trail will be selected through a combination of continued public input and internal review. Criteria for that process have not been disclosed.
