Tony Vaccaro, 40, grew up in Long Island, New York. When he started college in Madison, Wisconsin, he realized how much students loved eating pizza and thought it'd make a good business if he ever got the urge to start one. Vaccaro came to Tucson for graduate school in History, but didn't like school as much as he thought he would.

“I love Tucson so I decided to stay, opened a pizza place because I thought the quality of pizza in Tucson was not great,” Vaccaro said. “I know everyone loves pizza, I love pizza so I thought it'd be a good endeavor.”

Vaccaro came up with the base recipe from his grandfather's pizza place in Brooklyn, which was a little inspirational to Vaccaro's “Brooklyn Pizza,” made some adjustments over the first six months and it's stayed the same ever since.

When asked about the down economy, Vaccaro said, “Pizza's a little bit recession proof because it's an inexpensive food and our prices are very good to begin with.”

Cooks at Brooklyn Pizza have a great attention to detail and Vaccaro constantly monitors what's happening in the kitchen, whether it's dough or how the sauce is made or even the temperature of the ovens. They throw the pizza in the air and know that other places do that, but Brooklyn Pizza makers make it a point of doing it consistently. They alsonmake our own Italian Ice and gelato. Vaccaro pointed out that the pizzeria has a cafe feel with the artwork on the walls. Another thing he points out is the fact that Brooklyn Pizza is solar powered.

Vaccaro originally installed around 68 solar panels when he bought the building in 2006. He's currently opening up a bar next door focused on astronomical images, and has added an additional 18 panels. Vaccaro had thought of the idea of solar power when he was younger and had visited a friend who's home was solar powered.

“I thought it was just such a wonderful idea,” Vaccaro said. “I figured I'd be somewhat of a role model and put my money where my mouth is and make the investment. Hopefully [it will] inspire other people to do the same thing.”