SU Hill staple to change owners after 100 years in business, local restaurateurs take over Dec. 1

One of the most famous businesses on the Syracuse University hill has been sold. Varsity Pizza, which celebrates 100 years in business this year, will change hands effective Dec. 1. The new owners are Brian and Renee Bruno who own Brian's Landing in Jamesville, according to a press release from the Varsity. Brian's Landing's manager, Jaclyn Tesori, and head chef, Tom McNerney, will take the lead in managing the property at 802 S. Crouse Ave. The Dellas family started Varsity Pizza in 1926 and opened nearby Faegan's pub in 1978. Syracuse University bought a strip of four commercial properties, including Varsity and Faegan's, for $12 million in 2023. The Dellas family has continued to run the businesses while leasing the properties from SU ever since. Elli Darmoyslis shows off her spinach, tomato and feta pizza from Varsity in 2024. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) The Varsity and Faegan's have become synonymous with SU culture from the pizza pub's orange and blue interior and beloved rotating football pennants, to Faegan's foothold as one of the hill's remaining bars. 'Varsity is not just a restaurant. It is part of the fabric of this community and this university,' the Brunos wrote in the press release. 'Our plan is simple: protect everything that makes Varsity special, keep the people who have made it what it is and build on 100 years of success in a way that preserves its history and leans into its future. Jaclyn and Tom have that same philosophy, and having them together lead Varsity day to day gives us total confidence in what comes next.' Three generations of the Dellas family have operated the Varsity. The founder emigrated from Greece and originally sold popcorn and candy around Marshall Street before saving enough money to buy what would become Varsity. John and Jerry Dellas took over the business from their fathers, 'Spud' and Ted Dellas in 2001. 'What began as a small storefront grew into a fixture of campus life, feeding students before games, powering late study nights and hosting generations of alumni who return year after year to relive the tradition,' the press release said. The line at the pizza counter at the Varsity tends to be longest at lunchtime and on game days. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) Patriarch Ted Dellas recently celebrated his 102nd birthday. 'A hundred years is a long time to be part of something, and we could not be prouder of what this restaurant has meant to this community,' Jerry Dellas said. The new owners will keep Varsity's recipes, staff and traditions, according to the press release. 'Our family has poured everything into this place for three generations,' said John Dellas. 'Handing it off to people who care about it as much as we do, and who want to build on what we built rather than start over, is exactly the outcome we hoped for. 'We've been ready to move on for quite some time. But it didn't feel right to leave until we knew the business our family poured our life into was in good hands. That time is now, and we step aside knowing Varsity will live on well into the future.' Syracuse University owns 732-40, 742, 746 and 802 S. Crouse Ave. The properties have remained on the tax rolls despite being owned by the nonprofit university. SU paid more than $89,000 in city and county taxes on the properties in the last year.