Photo/ad for Leonardo's Pizza restaurant, The History Center clipping files, 1963.
Leonardo’s Pizzeria at 2210 16th Avenue SW has been a beloved Cedar Rapids landmark for over 60 years. Starting at this location in the mid 1950’s by the John Naso family, it is famous for its unique local pizza recipes and its enormous and varied menu. Its 1970’s interior design is just as popular as the food. It has red and black leather booths, tabletop jukeboxes, and incredibly authentic décor from almost 50 years ago. The exterior “L” neon sign is a classic symbol for Cedar Rapids as well. This stretch of 16th Avenue SW was part of Highway 30 for decades. Prior to Leonardo’s, this site was the location of the Star Drive-In Restaurant in the early 1950’s.
Mark W. Stoffer Hunter, Research Historian, The History Center
