Ohio Pizza Spot Finishes in Top 5 at International Expo

If you’ve been to Warren, there’s a good chance you’ve dug into slow-cooked pulled pork, brisket or chicken at Cockeye BBQ and grabbed a scoop of super-premium ice cream at Cockeye Creamery out back. In 2024, the Hoover family added to their Trumbull County restaurant lineup with its newest venture, Franky’s Pizza & Delicatessen, which claimed fifth place in the pizza category at the 2025 International Pizza Expo held in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 24 through 26, 

Benjamin Hoover, the son of Cockeye BBQ owners Erik and Stacey Hoover, opened Franky’s Pizza & Delicatessen in October 2024, combining the classic flavors of Sicilian pizza with influence from the big-city pies he tried while living in New York. In March, he faced off against 260 competitors from Italy, Japan, Mexico and the United States, taking fifth place for his Spicy Pepperoni pizza and 13th for his specialty sandwich, the Countach. 

You can try both winning creations at Franky’s Pizza & Delicatessen on Scott Street in downtown Warren. The Spicy Pepperoni pizza features a house-made Italian Chili Crunch oil, red sauce, capicola and pepperoni. Packed with Italian flavor, the Countach specialty sandwich features  breaded chicken cutlet with pesto, fresh mozzarella cheese, roasted red pepper and Prosciutto di Parma. Salads, appetizers and other signature sandwiches and pizzas round out the menu and gluten-free options are available as well. As a finale to your meal, be sure to order a Franky’s Italian Ice.

For more information about Franky’s Pizza & Delicatessen, visit frankyswarren.com.

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