New Pizzeria Opening at Former Location of Iconic Greenville Establishment

Cugino Forno, an Italian restaurant featuring pizza and salads, will open at the former location of Tanner's Big Orange.Photo byGrace Cary

A new restaurant is set to take over the spot where the iconic Tanner's Big Orange once stood in Greenville, South Carolina. Tanner’s first opened in Greenville in 1943, and the iconic orange sign on South Pleasantburg Drive has been a community fixture since it moved there in 1966.

Owner John Zeller cited inflation and “Bidenomics” as part of the reason for closing. The price of ingredients and supplies had doubled and tripled in some cases, making it financially unsustainable. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic and boycotts in 2020 dramatically decreased customer numbers.

Protestors had gathered in front of the restaurant for weeks after Zeller made controversial and racially insensitive social media posts, for which he later issued a public apology. Zeller also underwent two surgeries this year, limiting his ability to work.

Cugina Forno is set to open at 322 South Pleasantburg Drive in early 2025. The menu will offer ten homemade pizzas and salads, promising a "taste of Italy in every bite." This Greenville location will be the seventh for the restaurant.

The restaurant promises an authentic cuisine featuring Neapolitan-style pizza.Photo byInnovation Quarter

Joseph Ozbey, one of the three cousins that started the restuarant, is aware of the location’s history and aims to keep the building as close to the original as possible, while adding an Italian flair. He wants customers to feel like they are in Italy when they visit, with indoor seating and a covered outdoor patio where families can enjoy meals together.

Ozbey said that 85% of their ingredients come directly from Italy, including cheeses, flour, tomatoes, and olive oil. The restaurant will also offer local beers, Italian beers, and a wine selection.

Tanner's Big Orange, the previous restaurant at this location, closed at the end of 2023, ending a legacy that began along South Pleasantburg in 1966.