Zaffiro's Pizza celebrates 70 years in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Most small business owners can only dream of 70 successful years. For the Zaffiro family, it is not an accomplishment they take for granted. 

"To carry on what them guys started is very rewarding," said Michael Zaffiro. 

He took over the business from his father and uncle. 

"They started making pizza down in the Third Ward in '54, and that was a big Italian enclave at that time. It was the Italian neighborhood in the city of Milwaukee," he said.

Two years later, they opened the current location on Farwell. Not much has changed inside the restaurant, and nothing has changed with the recipe. 

"That's it. It's gold now. We don't change anything," said Michael. 

The two things that set the Zaffiro family's pizza apart from others is the secret sauce and the extra thin crust. 

"My dad did the crust. His whole thing was dead set on getting the crust as thin as we can possibly get it," he said.

Aside from being a favorite here in Milwaukee, Zaffiro's has received national recognition for its recipe and ambiance.