Our History Continued...
Authentically Rooted in Heritage
Origins of our Pizza Sauce
Pizza Man's Signature Sauce is the heart and soul of what makes our pizzas truly unforgettable—and sets us apart from the rest.
While our exact recipe remains a closely guarded secret, its roots trace back to a time when Minnesota-Style pizza was still being authored.
Determined to deliver something fresh and extraordinary, Luka and Mary used their time in the restaurant industry to create and launch the original Pizza Man™ .
What exists today is a proud continuation and cornerstone of Pizza Man; a sauce embodying simplicity, bold character, and a timeless quality that harkens back to an era when food was honest and made with care. Yet we've never rested on tradition alone—staying true to our values means embracing progress to deliver even better results for our customers.
In the early 2000s, more than 20 Pizza Man locations united, assisted by Luka himself, and used their purchasing power and unwavering commitment to the original recipe to create the 2nd generation of our sauce. Together, Pizza Man made a bold move: we eliminated the industry-standard tomato paste and began sourcing premium fresh tomato products directly from California—the heart of America's tomato processing industry.
Fun fact: California produces approximately 95% of the United States' processing tomatoes and about one-third of the world's total processed tomato production.
This shift allowed us to create a noticeably superior, more consistent sauce that's truly fresher than what most competitors offer. While other pizzerias may claim "fresh" sauce, we know the difference between canned paste and real, high-quality fresh tomatoes—and our customers taste it every time.
To perfect the process, we partnered with a dedicated local company to scale production while staying faithful to the classic recipe. The result? A sauce that's authentically rooted in heritage yet elevated for today—fresher, bolder, and unmistakably ours.
If you've tasted our pizza, you already know: there's something truly special about it. That magic starts with our signature sauce.
Whether prepared the traditional way at select locations or crafted with our modern-fresh tomato approach, every batch delivers that same special magic you've come to love.
Legacy of Luka
Luka grew up in Croatia and trained as a pilot in the Yugoslavian Army. He graduated from the University of Zagreb before leaving Europe. In 1969, he made his way to the United States from Germany and started a new chapter here. A few years later, in 1975, he married Mary. The following year, in 1976, the two of them jumped into the restaurant business together—and that decision eventually led to the creation of Pizza Man™ …
Visionary entrepreneurs like Luka and Mary contributed to the Twin City restaurant scene in many ways. They owned and operated Sun Ray Pizza & Deli in St. Paul's East-Side, Luka's Pizza in Robbinsdale and The Grand Gazebo on the infamous Grand Avenue area in West/Central St. Paul.
The Grand Gazebo offered pizza, spaghetti, hamburgers, chili, antipasto salads, wine and beer. Eventually, they sold it and it became Riggilleto; well known for its opera-singing waiters and waitresses.
Luka passed away in 2024 at age 87, leaving behind a legacy that has impacted generations of families.
Mission Statement
At Pizza Man™ , we remain steadfast in our dedication to the origins of our brand, founded in 1977 with a passion for crafting fresh, high-quality pizzas that bring people together. Honoring our enduring history, we are committed to serving the communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin with the same reliability and warmth that has defined us for decades. We look forward to continuing as a beloved tradition in the homes of generations of families, fostering simple joys through every slice.