Cugino Forno to Open New Greenville Pizzeria
The restaurant is set to bring its Neapolitan-style pizza to the former Tanner's Big Orange site.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Italian Food
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Cugino Forno Neapolitan Pizzeria is preparing to open its seventh location at 322 S. Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville. This marks the company's first expansion into South Carolina.
Why it matters
The company selected the Upstate region for its latest site to maintain logistical proximity to its existing restaurant network. The new venue will occupy the space formerly used by the Tanner's Big Orange drive-in.
The new Greenville establishment marks the seventh storefront for the chain, which first launched in 2017. The facility is located at 322 S. Pleasantburg Drive.
The players
Joseph Ozbey
He is one of the three co-founders of the Cugino Forno restaurant brand.
Adam Aksoy
He is a co-founder who helped establish the company's pizza-making standards.
Yilmaz Guver
He serves as a co-founder and business partner in the growing restaurant chain.
The details
Founded by Joseph Ozbey, Adam Aksoy, and Yilmaz Guver, the brand specializes in traditional techniques learned in Naples, Italy. The restaurant features ovens imported from Italy that are constructed using stone from Mount Vesuvius.
Timeline
The company opened its first location in Greensboro in 2017.
The restaurant is expected to open its Greenville location in a few months.
Culture Shift
The restaurant's arrival highlights the growing consumer demand for region-specific culinary authenticity as defined by the Neapolitan pizza certification standards of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. This reflects a broader shift toward specialized, technique-focused dining experiences.
Residents in the area can expect a new dining option at the former site of Tanner's Big Orange once the restaurant begins operations. The expansion introduces imported Italian ingredients and traditional oven-fired cooking methods to the local food market.
The takeaway
Customers interested in traditional Neapolitan cuisine should look for the upcoming opening at the Pleasantburg Drive site. The use of volcanic stone ovens and imported ingredients offers a specific, authentic style of pizza distinct from standard local options.
Further reading
For more on the regional culinary scene, visit the Italian Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Post and Courier.
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