Edwards Marko's Pizzeria Builds Community Over 32 Years

Briana DeSanctis has worked at Marko’s Pizzeria for over two decades. She greets customers who walk through the door as strangers. They leave as friends.

That is the promise of this Edwards institution. It is also, apparently, the business model.

Marko’s Pizzeria opened 32 years ago. Owner Marko Esteppe took every order by hand. Pen and paper. He wrote a name at the top of each ticket. Esteppe remembers those names. That memory built one of the most loved family restaurants in the valley.

The staff now boasts more than 100 years of combined pizza-making experience. The food holds up. So does the atmosphere.

“Come in as strangers, leave as friends,” DeSanctis said.

If she isn’t there to greet you, the chef is likely flipping dough nearby. Esteppe usually hovers near the front door. You cannot miss him.

This is not just a pizza shop. It is a community hub that feeds everyone from professional golfers to construction crews. Esteppe supports the Special Olympics annually. He feeds local high school groups. He does not turn away large orders.

“If you call anybody else and say you want 35 pizzas, see what they say,” Esteppe said. He laughed while saying it. “I say ‘Where do you want them, and when.’”

The menu blends East Coast technique with Colorado ingredients. Thin crust. Classic toppings. Look for seasonal fruit pizzas featuring Palisade peaches when they are in season.

The menu has expanded beyond pizza. Pastas sit next to salads. Subs share space with calzones. Appetizers and sides round out the options.

A classic stromboli arrives stuffed with spicy Italian sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, onions and mozzarella. Briana’s Blackberry Pizza offers a white base with ricotta, basil, fresh blackberries and honey.

The patio is pet-friendly. You can eat outside. The beer is cheap and cold, according to the establishment’s own claim.

Esteppe moved to the valley in 1985. He came from Pittsburgh. His mission was simple: ski hard and work in landscaping, as a ski tech or at another pizza shop.

“I love pizza but I could never get pizza around here back then,” he said. He pointed out how sparse the amenities were in Edwards three decades ago.

He changed that. Marko’s serves everything from classic cheese to taco pizza. Buffalo chicken sits beside barbecue chicken. Supreme options exist. Gluten-free choices are available. Wings, meatball subs, garlic bread and house salads complete the list.

Marko’s Pizzeria is everything a local pizza place should be. Then some.