After an eight-year hiatus, Rocky’s Pizza, a family-owned pizzeria with a boxing theme, has reopened in Birmingham, Alabama. The restaurant’s return marks a new chapter for the beloved eatery, which had a strong local following.
Originally scheduled to reopen in the summer of 2023, the reopening faced delays due to various setbacks. Despite the extended wait and growing impatience among fans, the children of the late founder, Dennis Dunlap, persevered to bring the pizzeria back. Dennis founded Rocky’s Pizza in 1986 but passed away in 2017. The restaurant closed the year before his death. His children, Joshua and Cynthia Dunlap, have now revived the family business. The new Rocky’s Pizza officially reopened on Monday, September 2. Joshua expressed his excitement about working with his sister in this venture. “I am ecstatic to have my sister on board with this partnership,” he told Bham Now. “I have always been the happiest when we are united as a family operation. I know this is how my father envisioned the business to continue.”
Chef René Mercado Angeles, who brings over 16 years of experience from Gianmarco’s Restaurant in Birmingham, has joined as a co-owner.
Rocky’s Pizza was renowned as “one of Birmingham’s most beloved pizza joints” during its previous runs in various locations across the city. In its later years, Joshua managed the kitchen while Dennis handled the front-of-house operations, and Cynthia contributed whenever possible.
Named in honor of boxer Rocky Marciano, the pizzeria was known for its slogan, “Round After Round, Best Pizza in Town,” and its pies named after famous boxers. The new location will continue this tradition with menu items such as the Muhammad Ali (featuring Alfredo sauce, chicken breast strips, mushrooms, onions, olives, and Parmesan); the George Forman (with red sauce, spiced beef, bacon, onions, tomatoes, cheddar, and optional shredded lettuce); and the Prince Naseed Hamed (topped with housemade sauce, ground lamb, onions, cilantro, feta cheese, and hot honey drizzle).
Cynthia Dunlap reflected on her past involvement with the original Rocky’s Pizza, including food prep, phone handling, deliveries, and catering. She played a significant role in marketing and product development. “I stayed involved with marketing projects and new product introductions to the business. I was honored to be involved in the family business and watch it flourish,” she said.
The Dunlap family and Mercado Angeles first announced the reopening last summer but had to push back the date to Spring 2024. The public’s anticipation and online speculation about the delay proved challenging. “It was hard,” Mercado Angeles admitted. “We would see the posts online, with people asking when we would open and the conspiracies of why it hadn’t happened yet. We just didn’t want to respond until we were 100% confident that the date would be correct this time.”
Reflecting on the delays, Mercado Angeles said, “In hindsight, we regret announcing when we did. At the time we originally announced that we were coming back, we genuinely believed that we would be open within a few months. Obviously, we were wrong.”
Rocky’s Pizza held a soft opening on September 2 and plans to fully resume operations by Monday, September 9. “Longtime fans will appreciate the décor,” Mercado Angeles noted. “We took all of the old photos that decorated the walls of our past location and put them up here. We added a bunch of other photos as well, so I think longtime fans will love the old school vibe.”
She concluded, “Being able to reopen Rocky’s means the world to all of us. There have been some ups and downs, but we never gave up. In the end, what means the most is keeping the legacy of Dennis Dunlap alive. He will always be the face of Rocky’s.”