Marcus Rivera
Founder & CEOMarcus started Dion's at age 26 with a $12,000 loan and a dream. Over 45 years later, he still tastes every new menu item personally before it launches.
Our Story
The Heart Behind Dion's
Since 1978, dion's has been Albuquerque's most-loved destination for handcrafted pizza, fresh salads, and honest food made with real ingredients. This is who we are.
Who We Are
More Than Pizza —
More Than Pizza —
A Community
Dion's — or as locals lovingly call it, dions — started with a simple idea: serve great food that people actually want to eat. No pretense. No shortcuts. Just good ingredients, prepared well, served with a smile in the heart of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
"We never set out to build a restaurant empire — we set out to feed our neighbors well, and everything else followed."
What began as a single location has grown into a beloved institution with deep roots in the Albuquerque community. Our dion's pizza has become the benchmark for New Mexico-style pizza — hand-tossed dough, premium toppings, and that signature sauce that customers drive across town for.
Every day, our team wakes up committed to the same values that built this brand: freshness, quality, hospitality, and community. Whether you're grabbing a quick slice during lunch or ordering dions pizza for your whole family, you're part of our story.
View Our Menu
45+
Years of Service
1M+
Pizzas Served
12+
Locations
500+
Team Members
What Drives Us
Our Mission & Core Values
Every decision we make — from the ingredients we source to how we treat our team — flows from these core beliefs.
Fresh Always
We prep fresh every single day. No frozen shortcuts. No day-old corners cut. From dough to toppings, freshness is non-negotiable at dions.
Community First
We're Albuquerque born and raised. We sponsor local schools, support neighborhood events, and keep our dollars local wherever possible.
People Matter
Our team is our greatest ingredient. We invest in our people, promote from within, and treat every employee like family — because they are.
Quality Obsessed
We taste every batch, train every cook, and inspect every delivery. Dion's pizza has to be perfect every time — that's the only standard we accept.
Our Journey
The Dion's Timeline
From a single storefront to a New Mexico institution — here's how dions grew into what it is today.
1978
The First Slice
Dion's opens its first location in Albuquerque, NM, serving hand-tossed pizza and fresh salads to local families. The community responds immediately — lines form around the block in the first week.
1985
Expanding the Family
By popular demand, dions opens its second location in the Northeast Heights neighborhood. The signature dion's pizza recipe is standardized across both stores — the same great taste, every time.
1994
Ranch Dressing Revolution
Dion's introduces its now-legendary homemade ranch dressing. Originally created as a salad dressing, customers quickly discovered it was the perfect complement to dions pizza — and the rest is history.
2003
Growing Across New Mexico
Dion's reaches 6 locations spanning Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Santa Fe. The brand becomes synonymous with New Mexico pizza culture, earning "Best Pizza in Albuquerque" from local publications.
2015
Catering & Online Ordering
Dions launches a full-service catering program and online ordering platform, making it easier than ever for Albuquerque families, offices, and events to enjoy their favorite food.
Today
Still Growing, Still Giving
With 12+ locations and 500+ team members, Dion's continues to grow while staying true to its roots. Fresh ingredients, community involvement, and that iconic dion's pizza taste — unchanged since 1978.
The People
Meet the Team
Behind every great slice of dions pizza is an even greater team. Say hello to the people who make it all happen.
Sofia Castillo
Executive ChefA CIA-trained chef who fell in love with New Mexico cuisine. Sofia oversees all recipe development and quality standards across every dions location.
David Nguyen
Director of OperationsDavid ensures every Dion's location runs like clockwork. With 18 years at dions, he's the operational backbone that keeps the pizza coming hot and on time.
Amanda Torres
Community RelationsAmanda manages Dion's partnerships with local schools, nonprofits, and community events. She's the reason dions feels like a neighbor, not just a restaurant.
Want to be part of our team? We're always looking for passionate people.
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