Guinness World Records Verifies John Arena and Team Made World’s Longest Pizza
Guinness World Records has officially verified that John Arena, co-founder and co-owner of Metro Pizza, alongside fellow industry leaders Tony Gemignani and Giulio Adriani, set the Guinness World Record for the World’s Longest Pizza on June 10 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.
Arena, Gemignani and Adriani led the effort over months of planning and preparation, culminating in 23 straight hours of work by more than a hundred volunteers to create the tomato and cheese pizza officially measuring 6,333 feet and 3.60 inches (1,930.39 meters).
“This achievement was all about collaboration,” said Arena. “It belongs to all of the dedicated pizza makers who showed unwavering commitment throughout the entire process, as well as Fash Asvadi of Italforni, Harrison Billig of Venice Bakery, Fred Mortati of Orlando Foods and all the other sponsors.”
Here is the official text of the award from Guinness World Records:
The longest pizza measures 1,930.39 m (6,333 ft 3.60 in) and was achieved by Pizzaovens.com, Venice Bakery, Orlando Foods, At-Pac, Sysco, TFX Non Stick, Capstone Scaffold Services, Scaffold Works, SoCal Gas, Tony Gemignani, Giulio Adriani, John Arena (all USA), and Italforni (Italy) in Fontana, California, USA, on 10 June 2017.
About John Arena
With 50 years of experience, Metro Pizza co-founder and co-owner John Arena is engaged in all aspects of our industry as an operator, seminar leader, competition judge, author and active pizza maker who continues to learn and expand his skills. The influence of this tireless baker and philosopher is felt not just across Las Vegas (which has become a serious pizza town in its own right) but across the country and even other continents, as Arena travels to train pizza makers worldwide–as far as China, Korea and Brazil.
A native of Brooklyn, who holds a B.A. in Communications from Adelphi University, John is a frequent guest lecturer and spokesperson for the industry, as well as seminar leader at premier industry conventions and events. In 2010 Arena created the nation’s first three-credit university level course focused on the history and culture of pizza for the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He also appears at length in the 2017 documentary film Scott’s Pizza Tours.
About Metro Pizza
The story of Metro Pizza begins in 1980, when John Arena and Sam Facchini, at the age of 24 decided to bet on each other and move from their native Brooklyn, NY to Las Vegas, NV to open their first local pizzeria. Thanks to the massive early success of their first New York Pizza (renamed Metro Pizza in 1986), they have since expanded to five restaurants, plus one licensed location at McCarran Airport, and a “bread and breakfast bakery,” all in Clark County, Nevada, their proud adopted home for nearly 37 years.
In 1986, Arena and Facchini were honored at Pizza Expo as the first independent pizzeria owners to be selected as National Pizza Operators of the Year. Dedicated to gaining respect for the craft, John and Sam helped to create the original competitions at Pizza Expo that today have become the benchmark of pizza making expertise. Both Arena and Facchini show no signs of slowing down as they enter their 50th year of an unbreakable, remarkable partnership.
Metro Pizza’s numerous accolades have included “Top Ten Pizzerias in America” (USA Today), “Best Pizza in the State” (The Food Network), “Best Pizza” (The Cooking Channel, CitySearch.com), “Top Pizza in Las Vegas” (Zagat), “Nevada Restaurateurs of the Year” (Nevada Restaurant Association), National Pizza Operators of the Year (Pizza Today), and “Best Pizza” by the Las Vegas Review-Journal a record nine times in a row.
John Arena and Sam Facchini have received the Key to the City from Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, and have had the honor of serving five U.S. presidents (both at their restaurants and inside Air Force One), as well as the Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra.