As a Chicagoan, I know my pizza, and I’m going to make a bold statement here: Detroit-Style Pizza might just be better than Chicago Deep Dish. Yes, you heard that right. (Though if we’re talking tavern-style, Chicago takes the crown, no contest.) But back to the point—Buddy’s Pizza in Detroit. Detroit is a city built on innovation, and 78 years ago, it gave birth to a new style of pizza that was unlike anything else.

What makes a pizza Detroit-Style? It’s the same qualities that define the city itself—ingenuity, resilience, and a whole lot of heart. In 1946, an original idea was sparked in the Motor City: take a steel auto pan, create something new, and make Buddy’s the birthplace of Detroit-Style Pizza. The legacy began at Buddy’s Rendezvous Pizzeria on Six Mile and Conant Street on Detroit’s east side when Gus Guerra and his team baked their first square-shaped pizza. Using forged-steel pans borrowed from local automotive plants, they achieved a light, crispy crust that became the hallmark of Detroit-Style Pizza.

This was the first known square pizza in the U.S., and over 78 years later, it’s become a national favorite. Recognizable by its iconic square shape and crunchy, cheesy corner slices, Detroit-Style Pizza draws influence from Sicilian-style pizza, but with a unique twist. Its distinctive layering starts with double-proofed dough, perfectly fitted to a square pan—a process that allows the dough to rise and stretch twice. Then, the toppings are layered in reverse, creating a pizza that’s as visually stunning as it is delicious.

Buddy’s didn’t just create Detroit-Style Pizza—they sparked a trend that’s spread across the country, inspiring pizza chains nationwide to craft their own versions. While Buddy’s has been perfecting their signature pizza for nearly eight decades, the rest of the nation is only just catching on. It’s not uncommon for pizza lovers from coast to coast to make a pilgrimage to the corner of Six Mile and Conant to experience where it all began. So, what are you waiting for? Go get your slice of history RIGHT NOW.

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