In 1959, Joe Aurelio, Jr. opened his own pizza joint, a small, four-table restaurant on Ridge Road in Homewood.  His thin-crust, square-cut pizza was such a hit that he was continually forced to expand his storefront to keep pace with the demand.  Ultimately he acquired a 12,000 square-foot warehouse, and in January 1977 he tripled the size of the restaurant, held his breath, and hoped for the best.  The customers continued to flock to Aurelio's Pizza, and soon he began franchising.  At last count, there were 43 Aurelio's Pizza locations in six states, but their matriarch remains right here on Harwood Avenue.