Virginia Square in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Mario's Pizza House

Open Late

— Famous Since 1957 —

Mario's Pizza House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 25, 2026

1. Mario's Pizza House Marker

Inscription. Mario's
Oldest restaurant in DMV - Since 1957
Sicilian pizza, Philly steak & cheese subs, fish subs
Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs grilled hot dogs, Italian subs, fried chicken, grilled chicken subs, wings
Carvel 🍦 ice cream cakes, soft serve, milk shake

Carvel 🍦
America's 1st ice cream franchise
Since 1934
Tradition never gets old here!

Erected by Mario's Pizza House.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1957.

Location. 38° 53.006′ N, 77° 5.975′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Virginia Square. It is on Wilson Boulevard west of North Jackson Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3325 Wilson Blvd, Arlington VA 22201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic

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Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Carvel🍦 History (a few steps from this marker); Untitled, early 1930s, restored 2004 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Maury School (approx. 0.2 miles away); Spielschiff, 2007 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Ball Family Burial Ground (approx. 0.2 miles away); Arlington County War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); American Legion Memorial of Arlington (approx. ¼ mile away); Arlington Post Office (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.

Additional commentary.
1. About the marker
While this sign is plainly an advertisement for the business, it also serves as a historical marker because it makes two historically significant claims:

1. It is the oldest restaurant in the DMV (regional slang for the DC, Maryland and Northern
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 25, 2026

2. Mario's Pizza House
Virginia area).
2. Carvel is the first ice cream franchise in the United States.

The first claim is verifiably untrue. There are older extant restaurants in the region. Most famously, Old Ebbett Grill has operated in DC since the 19th century. There are even other restaurants in Arlington County that are older than Mario's Pizza House -- including Weenie Beenie (1954) and Bob and Edith's Diner (1949). That noted, Mario's is a historic fixture in northern Arlington County.

However, the claim for Carvel Ice Cream as the first ice cream brand to franchise in the United States is true. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor

— Submitted August 26, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

Additional keywords. culinary history

Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 26, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.