The first square pizza in Detroit history was baked in a steel pan meant for nuts and bolts. That pan came from an auto plant, and the idea worked so well it launched a whole pizza style.
The cheese here is Wisconsin brick, spread right to the pan’s edges. It melts against the hot steel and turns into a crunchy, caramelized frame.
Then the sauce goes on top, in stripes, after the bake.
I love that this same corner still serves that pizza today. It’s in Michigan, it’s been doing this since 1946, and it never moved away from where it all started.
I believe that kind of staying power says plenty.
So what does a pizza with that much history actually taste like? I can’t imagine skipping the chance to find out.
The Corner Where Detroit-Style Pizza Was Born
Plenty of restaurants claim a famous dish, but Buddy’s Pizza has the receipts. Detroit-style pizza was invented right here in 1946.
Back then, the place was called Buddy’s Rendezvous, run by Gus Guerra. He made the first square pizza at the corner of Six Mile and Conant.
That’s still the same corner today. You get to eat the style where it actually began, not at a copy down the road.
The building started even earlier, in 1936, as a speakeasy. Pizza came along ten years later and turned the spot into a success story.
Gus Guerra sold the business in 1953. Around 1972, William Jacobs took over the original location.
His son, Robert Jacobs, later grew Buddy’s into more locations across Michigan. In 2019, the company was sold to a private equity group called Capital Spring.
Through all those changes, this corner stayed the home base. That matters when you care about where food comes from.
Think of it like visiting the first page of a really good book. Every square pizza you’ve seen in another city traces a line back to this spot.
Those Crispy Cheese Edges Are The Whole Reason You Came
Crunch first, questions later. The edges on a Buddy’s square are the star, and they earn it honestly.
Wisconsin brick cheese gets spread all the way to the sides of the steel pan. As the pizza bakes, that cheese melts against the hot metal and caramelizes.
What you get is a golden, crispy frame around every pie. Corner slices get the most of it, so plan your grab carefully.
Inside that frame, the crust stays thick, light, and airy. It’s a fun contrast that keeps each bite interesting.
The dough is double-proofed and hand-stretched every day. That extra rising time helps build the soft, open texture in the middle.
Pepperoni often goes straight onto the dough before the cheese. That way, its flavor soaks down into the crust while it bakes.
Brick cheese isn’t something you see on most pizzas. It’s a big part of why this style tastes different from New York or Chicago slices.
A tip for groups: talk about corners before the pizza lands. Four corners, plenty of friends, and only so much diplomacy to go around.
Sauce On Top Sounds Backwards Until It Makes Total Sense
Most pizzas put sauce down first and cheese on top. Buddy’s flips that order, and it’s done on purpose.
The tomato sauce gets ladled over the cheese after baking. It usually goes on in neat stripes across the top.
That striped look has a fun backstory. It’s a nod to Detroit’s car-building history, like racing stripes on a pizza.
Putting sauce on last helps the crust and cheese do their thing in the oven. The top stays bright and saucy instead of baking away.
You can see every stripe clearly when the pizza arrives. It’s one of the easiest ways to spot a true Detroit-style pie.
If you like more tomato flavor, the stripes make it easy to aim your bites. Want a cheesier mouthful?
Go for the space in between.
Honestly, it’s a smart little design choice. Detroit knows a thing or two about building something that works.
So when a friend asks why the sauce is on top, you’ll have an answer ready. Bonus points if you mention the racing stripes.
Blame The Auto Plants For That Perfect Square Shape
Detroit built cars, and somehow that led to better pizza. The original square pies at Buddy’s Pizza were baked in blue steel pans.
Those pans weren’t made for food at all. They came from local automotive plants, where they held nuts and bolts.
Someone saw a sturdy steel tray and thought, why not pizza? That clever reuse gave the crust its famous shape and crunch.
Steel heats up well and holds that heat. It’s a big reason the cheese along the edges gets so crispy.
The square shape also changes how you eat. Instead of triangles, you get rectangular pieces with a sturdy base.
It’s a very Michigan story when you think about it. Factory parts and a hungry idea teamed up to create a whole food category.
Today, the pan is part of the legend. Lots of places across the country make Detroit-style pizza, but this is where the pan trick started.
Next time you hold a square slice, give a small thanks to the assembly line. Nobody planned it, yet here we are, happily crunching.
Order The Detroiter, Then Argue About The Super 6 Mile
Decisions, decisions. The menu at Buddy’s Pizza has plenty of pies, but two signature picks stand out.
The Detroiter is the classic move. Pepperoni sits under the cheese, and two strips of tomato sauce go on top.
It’s simple and focused. If you’re new to Detroit-style pizza, this one shows the style without distractions.
Then there’s the Super 6 Mile, named for the road outside. It’s topped with Wisconsin brick cheese, pepperoni, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and ham.
That’s a lot of toppings for one square. It’s a great choice when your group can’t agree on just one thing.
Here’s a friendly strategy for two or more people. Order one of each and compare the bites side by side.
You’ll learn fast whether you’re a purist or a pile-it-on type. Either answer is a good one here.
The 6 Mile name is a small local touch, too. You’re eating a pizza named after the very street the restaurant sits on, which feels pretty fitting for a corner joint.
Save Room, Because The Antipasto Salad Is Not A Side Thought
Salad at a pizza place usually feels like homework. The antipasto salad at Buddy’s changes that.
It’s made with Romaine lettuce, ham, salami, Wisconsin brick cheese, and tomatoes. A house-made dressing ties it all together.
Yes, the same brick cheese from the pizza shows up here. It’s a nice way to keep the meal feeling connected.
Beyond salad, the menu goes wide. You’ll find Buddy Bread, minestrone soup, lasagna, and several pastas.
There are also burgers, sandwiches, chicken tenders, and wings. Mozzarella sticks, loaded fries, and garlic bread round out the snack side.
That variety helps when someone in your crew isn’t in a pizza mood. Rare, but it happens.
Gluten-free diners get real care, too. The gluten-free pizza bakes uncut in a foil-lined pan, and you get a clean pizza cutter to avoid cross-contamination.
Sweet tooth still awake? Desserts include tiramisu, lemon bars, and Sanders Hot Fudge Sundaes.
Sanders is a Michigan name with plenty of local pride behind it. Ending on hot fudge feels like a proper finish.
Detroit Memorabilia Covers The Walls Like A Family Scrapbook
Walls can tell stories, and these ones are chatty. The dining room at Buddy’s Pizza is decorated with Detroit memorabilia.
It gives the space a historic feel without trying too hard. You’re eating in a room that clearly loves its city.
The atmosphere is warm, clean, and bright. It works well for family dinners or a casual meet-up with friends.
Staff sometimes share stories about the restaurant’s past with diners. It’s a nice bonus if you enjoy a little history with your pizza.
That mix of decor and storytelling makes the meal feel nostalgic. It’s easy to feel like part of a long-running family tradition.
A tip for first-timers: take a slow look around before your food arrives. The walls give you plenty to talk about while you wait.
Kids might enjoy spotting things they recognize from Detroit. Grown-ups might find a few memories of their own up there.
Either way, the room does a good job of matching the food. Both feel rooted in Detroit and proud of it, which is exactly the vibe you’d hope for at the original.
Easy Parking And A Welcome Mat For Everyone
Good news for anyone who dreads circling the block. Buddy’s Pizza on Conant offers free parking.
You’ll find the restaurant at 17125 Conant St, Detroit, MI 48212. It sits on the northeast side of the city, near Six Mile.
Hours are simple to remember. The doors open at 11 am and close at 9 pm, every day of the week.
That steady schedule makes planning easy. Lunch on a Tuesday or dinner on a Sunday both work.
The restaurant is wheelchair accessible to the lobby. It’s also non-smoking, which keeps the air full of pizza smells instead.
Families fit right in here. The menu has plenty of choices for younger eaters, from chicken tenders to mozzarella sticks.
Internet access is available, too. Handy if you need to send a quick photo of your pizza to someone jealous.
It’s open year-round, so Michigan winters won’t shut down your plans. A warm square pizza on a snowy day sounds like a pretty strong argument for braving the cold.
Make It Your First Stop On A Michigan Pizza Pilgrimage
Food Network once named Buddy’s Pizza one of the nation’s best pizza places. That’s big praise for a neighborhood corner spot.
Still, the real draw is simpler. This is where Detroit-style pizza started, and you can eat it in the same spot.
Buddy’s has other locations around Michigan now. The Conant restaurant is the original, and that gives it a special pull.
Out-of-town friends make great company for this trip. Bringing someone to the birthplace of a famous pizza is a fun way to show off Detroit.
A few tips help you plan. Start with the Detroiter, grab an antipasto salad to share, and fight fairly for the corners.
Ask about the history if your server has a moment. You’ll leave knowing why the sauce sits on top and where those pans came from.
Then take your new pizza knowledge home with you. Every square slice you see afterward will remind you of this corner.
Some meals fill you up. This one also hands you a great story, and those crispy edges make it impossible to forget the ending.
