Owner Of San Diego's Iconic Bronx Pizza Dies After Battle With Cancer

August 30, 2023

San Diego's iconic Bronx Pizza has announced that one of its owners, Seth "Smitty" Smith, has passed away after a battle with cancer. 

"We lost our part owner and 26 year employee Seth Smith aka Smity last week after a short battle with cancer," posted Bronx Pizza on the company's social media channels. "We are broken hearted. We will have a service at the pizzeria September 12th, I will post a time as soon as possible."

Bronx Pizza first opened on Washington Street on the border of San Diego's Mission Hills and Hillcrest neighborhood in 1997. The restaurant has long been owned by Joann & Matthew Gardner, Peter Canora and Seth Smith. Smitty has long been a fixture behind Bronx Pizza's counter, serving up slices and pies with a smile. Patrons have been filling Bronx Pizza's social media with kind words and stories about Smitty since news broke. 

"So sad to hear," commented longtime customer D.J. Iverson on Bronx's Facebook page. "He was a very kind man. I locked my keys in my car once at Bronx, and while I waited three hours for the locksmith to arrive he gave me a free lunch and we talked baseball and boxing the whole afternoon. Will be praying for his family and the Bronx crew."

Bronx Pizza is located at 111 Washington Street in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood. For more information, visit bronxpizza.com/ourstory.