The last of the $1 slices: Two pizzerias keep N.J.'s best bargain alive

For the past two decades or so, the dollar slice enjoyed an enormously successful run, especially in New York City, where it was treated as the greatest food bargain in one of the world’s most expensive cities.

A slice for a buck? Let me have two.

But the perfect storm of escalating prices for sauce and cheese plus pandemic-caused supply shortages has slowly spelled the demise of the dollar slice. One of the best-known dollar slice joints in New York City, 2 Bros.

Pizza, just increased the cost of its dollar slice to £1.50.

You want a dollar slice (not to mention better pizza overall)? Come to New Jersey.

Delizia Pizza Kitchen in Dover and its sister restaurant in Ledgewood have offered dollar slices from day one.

Now they might be the only two pizzerias in the state still offering them on a regular basis.

Note: When we say “dollar slice,” we mean a plain slice on a pizzeria’s menu all day, every day, for a buck. It does not include “happy hour” specials where a slice might be 50 cents, or buy-one-at-regular price and get the second for £1, or lunch specials where two slices and soda might cost £5 but the rest of the day those slices will cost £2 or more.

At Delizia, the slice is indeed a dollar (actually 99 cents), and it’s available around the clock.

The last of the dollar slices

Plain slice, Delizia Pizza Kitchen, Dover (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

One of the last dollar slice holdouts in New Jersey was SIP .99 Cent Pizza in Jersey City.

But the slices are now £1.50 and the “99? has been covered on its sign. Can you find dollar slices on any of the Jersey boardwalks? I didn’t spot any when I visited all 54 boardwalk pizzerias two summers ago.

The dollar slice may be on life support everywhere else, but the father-son duo behind Delizia say their dollar slice is staying put.

“I’ve had people say, 99 cent slice, you probably don’t put any cheese on it,” George Koliq says, laughing. “I say, when an airplane company (offers) cheap flights to Florida, do you ask them if those airplanes have any engines?”

So, yes, real cheese and real sauce go into the dollar slices, just like the other dozen or so pizzas available at Delizia every day.

Interestingly, Koliq and his son, Azem, co-own four Delizia locations, but only Dover (open 17 years) and Ledgewood (the first location opened in 2000, the current one eight years ago) offer dollar slices.

Their Raritan Township location involves other partners, who are not keen on the idea of dollar slices. The fourth location, in Fairfield, opened a month ago, and will offer dollar slices eventually, according to Azem Koliq.

His dad, who was born in Albania and came to this country when he was in his early 20s, is no stranger to the pizza business. George, now 70, once owned pizzerias in 30 malls, from New Jersey and Long Island to Pittsburgh and Georgia.

The last of the dollar slices

Sip .99 Cent Pizza in Jersey City has covered up the “.99” in the sign (Jeremy Schneider I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

He longer operates the mall pizzerias; his four current pizzerias keep him and his son busy enough.

On a typical Friday, Delizia’s Dover location will sell 400 dollar slices (50 plain cheese pies worth). Their best customers: students from East Dover Elementary School, just across the street.

“You come here around 2:30, there’s a line, everybody’s got a dollar in their hands.” Azem Koliq, 31, explains. “When the school comes out, we make 20 (plain) pies for the house. They’re all for dollar slices.”

“I don’t make no money on 99-cent slices,” his father says. “Hopefully I make money because they buy soda or something else.

Eventually it will balance out.”

The last of the dollar slices

Pizzas, Delizia Pizza Kitchen, Dover (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The dollar slices at Delizia are not mentioned on the menu, or on its Facebook page. There’s a sign out front, but that’s it.

“I’m a little lazy on social media,” Azem Koliq admits. “Word of mouth is the best advertising.”

He didn’t go to college, knowing from early on his choice of career. “In my middle school yearbook, the question was, ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ I said, ‘I want to own pizzerias like my dad.’ ”

He does the shopping for all four pizzerias at the Restaurant Depot in Pine Brook, dropping off needed supplies at each location. It’s a long, tiring week — the pizzerias are open every day — but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Asked if the Delizia dollar slice will ever disappear, his answer is a quick “No.”

“Seventeen years, and we went through the pandemic,” he says. “If we haven’t raised (the price) by now …

That’s our identity, that’s who we are.”

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust.

Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Peter Genovese may be reached at [email protected].

On Twitter, @petegenovese. On Instagram, @peteknowsjersey and @themunchmobile.

choice-furniture-superstore listed on couponmatrix.ukgood-energy listed on couponmatrix.uklaybrook listed on couponmatrix.ukmerlin-pass listed on couponmatrix.ukmyprotein-com listed on couponmatrix.uktransport-for-wales listed on couponmatrix.uk
choice-furniture-superstore listed on couponmatrix.ukChoice Furniture have an encyclopaedic range of furniture for every room in your house, with an A to Z of top brands on offer at prices that include two man delivery right to your front door. You may think brands like Annaghmore, Baumhaus, Bentley Designs and Mark Harris are out of reach for your budget, but Our Choice Furniture Superstore discount code will dramatically lower the price you pay and help you achieve your dream home without waiting for years before you can afford the very best.
good-energy listed on couponmatrix.ukThe way we source our energy can be a great cause for concern, especially with our seeming reliance on gas and nuclear sources. With Good Energy, you know you’re changing for the better – as almost all their energy is sourced by renewable means. Find a monthly price to save on with a Good Energy promo code and you’ll quickly see the benefits of switching providers, for both the environment and your personal balance.
laybrook listed on couponmatrix.ukLaybrook is an established retailer of adjustable beds, mattresses and furniture items. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, they are dedicated to providing excellent customer service and quality products at competitive prices. They offer a wide range of savings with their Laybrook discount codes and voucher codes, allowing customers to save money on their orders. Whether you're looking for luxury adjustable beds or a comfortable mattress, Laybrook has something that meets your needs - as well as your budget. Explore their selection now and make sure to take advantage of one of their great deals with our Laybrook discount codes. Shop smarter for less today!
merlin-pass listed on couponmatrix.ukWhen it comes to big days out, Merlin are the biggest name in the UK by a country mile: As well as owning top theme parks, they’ve got cultural and educational attractions like Warwick Castle and Sea Life in their portfolio, and the Merlin Pass offers you and your friends and family unlimited entry for a full year. Whether you want high-octane thrills at Alton Towers or Thorpe Park, high altitude viewing platforms at Blackpool or Weymouth or highly atmospheric creepy thrills in the London Dungeon, you’ll always find something that’ll give get the whole family something to get excited about
myprotein-com listed on couponmatrix.ukWhether you're a seasoned sports and fitness fan, or a relative newcomer who is simply trying to get in better shape, then the right nutrition to fuel your body for its workouts is vital. Join the health movement at Myprotein for support every step of the way. Myprotein is one of the most trusted leaders in the market of high quality protein powders and sports nutrition, and with your Myprotein discount code you can save on products from the number one site for all of your fitness nutritional needs. At Groupon we can help you to get an even better deal on some of Myprotein’s fantastic products thanks to our wide selection of deals and promotions that can save you money.
transport-for-wales listed on couponmatrix.ukWhether you travel for work, to explore or to meet familiar faces, Transport for Wales is there to help you stick to your schedule. Offering rail connections from Cardiff all the way to Edinburgh, all you need is the latest Transport for Wales discount to reach your destination without breaking the bank. With live updates, regular departures and an array of ticket types to match all budgets, it’s easy to see why so many make Transport for Wales their go-to for train travel.