Altoona-style pizza may be the most talked-about Pennsylvania culinary invention in the history of social media!
![Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (2) Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (2)](https://i0.wp.com/pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Altoona-Style-Sicialian-Pizza-slices-29th-Street-Pizza-Altoona-Pennsylvania.jpg)
It’s become such a phenomenon that the local minor league baseball team, the Altoona Curve, renamed themselves the Altoona Pizzas as part of a week-long promotion in August 2023.
![Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (3) Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (3)](https://i0.wp.com/pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Altoona-Curve-Altoona-Pizzas-Promotion-August-2023.jpg)
Much of the credit for the continued popularity/notoriety of Altoona-style pizza goes to Steve Corklic, owner of 29th Street Pizza Subs & More and flag-bearer for this Blair County delicacy.
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Recently I had a chance to stop in at Steve’s establishment in Altoona, determined to render my own verdict on this thick-crusted internet sensation.
![Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (5) Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (5)](https://i0.wp.com/pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/29th-Street-Pizza-Altoona-Style-Pizza.jpg)
I brought along my friend Jeremy to render a second opinion, a former pizza shop owner himself.
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Together we shared a few slices of Altoona-style pizza during the busy lunch rush at 29th Street Pizza Subs & More, then shared some great conversation with Steve.
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The Origins of Altoona-Style Pizza
Altoona-style pizza originated from the Altoona Hotel in the 1950s, and grew in popularity until the hotel was destroyed by a fire in 2013.
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Also known as Altoona Hotel Pizza or Altoona Sicilian Pizza, several local establishments stepped in to fill the void, bringing their own versions of Altoona-style pizza to life.
Altoona-style pizza is a variation on Sicilian pizza, featuring a thick, spongy crust and rectangular shape, similar to focaccia bread.
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On top of the dough goes a layer of tomato sauce, then a slice of deli-style salami, then a sliced green bell pepper ring, and finally the topper (and most controversial ingredient) – a slice of processed yellow American cheese!
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Altoona-style pizza remined me of an open-faced sandwich, and is served with a knife and fork in a similar fashion.
![Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (12) Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (12)](https://i0.wp.com/pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Altoona-Sicilian-Pizza-Altoona-Pennsylvania.jpg)
The Verdict on Altoona-Style Pizza
I thought the Altoona-style pizza was delicious; Jeremy, being more of a purist when it comes to pizza, thought it would have been better with traditional mozzarella cheese.
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One thing we both agreed on was the atmosphere inside 29th Street Pizza was fantastic.
![Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (14) Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (14)](https://i0.wp.com/pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/29th-Street-Pizza-Altoona-Style-Sicilian-Pizza.jpg)
Once the home of Guido’s Barber Shop, 29th Street Pizza is the quintessential western PA neighborhood joint, replete with Steelers/Pirates memorabilia and vintage photos of Altoona.
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While perhaps best known for Altona-style pizza, 29th Street Pizza Subs & More has an extensive menu.
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They also serve your classic PA “side dishes”, including Middleswarth and Utz chips, as well as Galliker’s iced tea.
![Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (17) Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (17)](https://i0.wp.com/pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/29th-Street-Altoona-Style-Pizza-shop.jpg)
When we got there right around noon, the place was packed with diners and people picking up take-out orders, and judging from the back-and-forth banter everyone knew Steve and Steve knew everyone!
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So ultimately whether or not you find Altoona-style pizza to your liking or not, you’d be hard-pressed not to find SOMETHING on the menu to enjoy at 29th Street Pizza, Subs & More – Jeremy and I are already planning a return visit to tackle the “Attaboy” stromboli!
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29th Street Pizza Subs & More is located at the corner of 29th Street and 5th Avenue in Altoona.
![Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (20) Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (20)](https://i0.wp.com/pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/29th-Street-Altoona-Style-Pizza-Shop-Altoona-Pennsylvania.jpg)
The Altoona Curve Become the Altoona Pizzas
Watching an article I’d written help spawn a Minor League Baseball promotion was a bit surreal, but I thoroughly enjoyed how it all play out.
![Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (21) Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (21)](https://i0.wp.com/pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Altoona-Pizzas-Baseball-T-Shirt-Altoona-Pennsylvania.jpg)
The normal Altoona Curve gameday program became the “Pizza Menu”.
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The mascot created for the Altoona Pizza resembled the square slice topped with yellow cheese that is synonymous with Altoona-style pizza; one could also argue it looked like an angry version of Sponge Bob SquarePants.
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One of the personal highlights of the Altoona Pizzas game I attended was watching the announcer read some of the disparaging comments people had left on social media about my Altoona-style pizza article!
![Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (24) Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (24)](https://i0.wp.com/pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Altoona-Pizzas-Reading-Comments-From-PA-Bucket-List-Article-Between-Innings.jpg)
Love it or hate, but the power of Altoona-style pizza has spread beyond the kitchen and into the realm of professional baseball!
![Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (25) Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (25)](https://i0.wp.com/pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Altoona-Pizzas-Baseball-Caps-Altoona-Pennsylvania.jpg)
Nearby Attractions
TheAltoonaRailroaders Memorial Museumin Blair County celebrates the lives of both railroad workers and railroading communities in central Pennsylvania.
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Unlike many “train museums” that focus primarily on engines and cars, theRailroaders Memorial Museumfocuses primarily on the men and women who kept the engines running and the cars rolling.
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TheHorseshoe Curvein near Altoona was considered one of the“engineering wonders of the world”at the time of its completion in1854.
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This2,375 foot-longcurved stretch of railroad tracks allowed trains to conquer the Allegheny Mountains for the first time, by permitting a more gradual ascent/descent of those mountains.
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Today theHorseshoe Curvehas both amuseum/visitor center, as well as aviewing areato watch trains round the Curve itself.
![Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (30) Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (30)](https://i0.wp.com/pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Horseshoe-Curve-Norfolk-Southern-Engine-Blair-County-Pennsylvania.jpg)
Chimney Rocks Parknear Hollidaysburg inBlair Countyis home to3 impressive scenic overlooksin a beautiful borough park setting.
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DelGrosso’s Amusem*nt Parknear Altoona has been a central PA tradition formore than 100 years!
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DelGrosso’s Amusem*nt Parkoffersfree parking, free admission, and over 30 rides, with something for everyone from little kids to adults.
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16 Must-See Attractions in Blair County is your guide to even more great things to see and do near Altoona.
![Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (34) Altoona-Style Pizza | The Pizza That Broke The Internet (34)](https://i0.wp.com/pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Canoe-Creek-State-Park-Boat-Launch-Blair-County-Pennsylvania.jpg)
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