Who we are
Chi Siamo
1900's
The Beginning
The story of Mama Mia Pizzeria began with a dream based on the childhood memories of Carl Humbert Scalise. Carl was the son of Italian immigrants, Frank and Madalena Scalise, who arrived in New York from Terravecchia (Frank) and Naples (Madalena), Italy in the early 1900’s. They married and moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where they had four children. In the 1930’s, they moved the family to McAllen where their fifth child was born.
1941
McAllen during WWII
During World War II, their older son, Mike joined the military. Madalena and Frank missed their son so much, that they decided to help the young servicemen stationed at Moore Air Base in Mission, Texas who were feeling homesick and missing a home cooked meal. They invited them to their home on the weekends, where Madalena cooked traditional Italian meals, and sang and played the piano. It was the love of Madalena’s cooking and the warm, inviting feeling she gave her quests that inspired Carl to open a restaurant years later. It was this love that Carl passed on to his children.
1984
A Dream Realized
Upon his retirement from construction, Carl opened a restaurant, on the family property, in 1984 on the corner of 1st and Business Highway 83 in McAllen, Texas. He served his pizzas and few pasta dishes strictly for pick up or delivery. In the late 80’s, Carl opened his first full-service restaurant, with the help and support of his wife, Rebecca and their children. Carl restored and renovated his childhood home, keeping the authentic Italian charm his father designed nearly 100 years ago. Finally, in 2012, the home was converted into a beautiful addition to Mama Mia Pizzeria.
Today
The Family Legacy Continues
Carl’s children, Linda and Frank, have honored his dream by preserving the family’s original recipes by preparing everything from scratch, using top quality ingredients, providing a warm welcoming atmosphere and staying committed to offering a taste of Italy to the Rio Grande Valley.
