Biznes Fakty
The oldest pizzeria in Poland turns 50
On Saturday, March 8, the first pizzeria in Poland celebrates its 50th anniversary. This establishment, located in Słupsk at the Poranek milk bar, continues to serve its original recipe for a yeast-based cake filled with three options: mushrooms, sausage, or bacon.
The General Consumer Cooperative Społem in Słupsk, which has been in operation since July 1945, owns both the Poranek bar and Poland’s oldest pizzeria adjacent to it, which celebrates its 50th birthday on Saturday.
– Bar Poranek was founded as a milk bar in 1952 to provide a dining option for the working class. It has remained a venue where patrons can enjoy quality meals at reasonable prices. It was here that the pizzeria was launched on March 8, 1975 – noted Anna Szymkowska, head of the sales department and board proxy of PSS Społem in Słupsk.
She mentioned that the pizzeria’s founding was spearheaded by Tadeusz Szołdra, who was the director of catering at Społem in Słupsk at the time.
– He attended a culinary fair in Milan, where he observed the immense popularity of pizza. Upon his return, he concluded that introducing something similar in Słupsk could be worthwhile. Since there was a small space in the Poranek bar, previously home to a tiny dessert shop, he decided that we should relocate desserts elsewhere, as it was an ideal spot for pizza – Szymkowska explained.
This is not „traditional Italian pizza”
Szymkowska emphasized that the pizza made at Poranek is not and has never been a „traditional Italian pizza,” which is now available at numerous pizzerias across Poland.
– It is a yeast cake made from a timeless recipe. Initially, attempts were made to create it with lamb and smoked fish. However, the varieties that gained the most popularity among customers were those filled with mushrooms, as well as sausage or bacon. These three options are still available today, with mushroom pizza being the favorite among gourmets – Szymkowska admitted.
A specialized firebrick oven was constructed specifically for baking pizza, serving as a prototype for many subsequent pizzerias. Szymkowska noted that the oven required heating, prompting the staff to arrive early in the morning, although the first pizzas were not baked until 10 a.m.
There are queues in the summer
On average, 450-500 pizzas are sold each day, with that number rising to approximately 600 during the summer season.
– This always results in long lines, and people on the promenade at al. Wojska Polskiego often sit on benches enjoying our pizzas. It brings joy to see them. The flavors appeal to both the young and the old. Those who have moved away, whether to other parts of the country or abroad, are happy to return to Słupsk and rediscover the tastes of their childhood in our pizzas,” Szymkowska assured.
Since 2012, Bogusława Banasiuk has been at the helm of the bar and pizzeria. Having served as the deputy head chef for a decade, she is well-acquainted with every aspect of production and the establishment itself. According to a representative of the Słupsk Społem board, „young people should learn from Mrs. Bogusia how to run a kitchen and maintain high production quality.”
Poranek employs a total of 23 staff members, including four who are solely responsible for baking and serving pizzas on-site, while the filling and dough are prepared in the bar’s kitchen.
On Saturday, to celebrate the pizzeria’s 50th anniversary, the first 50 pizzas will be offered for free starting at 10 a.m. A birthday cake will be served at noon. Additionally, a contest for a promotional slogan for the restaurant’s pizza is currently running on its Facebook page.
The iconic place will not disappear from the map of Słupsk
Szymkowska confirmed that PSS Społem in Słupsk has no plans to close this iconic establishment. She dismissed the rumors that occasionally surface, particularly around April 1, regarding plans to sell Poranek and the pizzeria.
PSS Społem in Słupsk was once one of the city’s largest employers. Today, its operations primarily focus on retailing food, household products, and chemicals.
– We operate five retail stores, a bakery that produces bread using traditional recipes, rental facilities at the marketplace, and the Podkowa shopping mall, which features a three-story parking garage, rental spaces, and a delicatessen. However, the flagship offerings remain the Poranek bar and its adjacent pizzeria – Szymkowska concluded.
