Luigi’s Pizza & Subs: Difference between revisions

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New page: Luigi's Pizza & Subs on State Street, 1973 (Wisconsin Historical Society photograph)
 
Note Cafe La Bellitalia at 1026 N. Sherman Ave.
 
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'''Luigi's Pizza & Subs''' was a pizza and sub shop on State Street at the intersection with West Gilman Street. A 1973 photograph shows its sign, "Luigi's Pizza & Subs, Free Delivery", on the right-hand end of a brick building it shared with the Chocolate House ice cream parlor and the College Boot Shop<ref>Garner, B. (1973). "Chocolate House." Photograph, Wisconsin Historical Society, Unique ID W01266W (WHI 137869). Bruce Garner photographs of State Street area, Madison, Wisconsin, circa 1973.</ref>.
'''Luigi's Pizza & Subs''' was a small Madison pizza and sub chain of the 1970s, best remembered for its slice shop on State Street at the intersection with West Gilman Street. A 1973 photograph shows its sign, "Luigi's Pizza & Subs, Free Delivery", on the right-hand end of a brick building it shared with the Chocolate House ice cream parlor and the College Boot Shop<ref>Garner, B. (1973). "Chocolate House." Photograph, Wisconsin Historical Society, Unique ID W01266W (WHI 137869). Bruce Garner photographs of State Street area, Madison, Wisconsin, circa 1973.</ref>.


It is not known to be connected with [[Luigi's Pizza]] on Midvale Boulevard. Its years and street number are still to be found.
Its address was 462 State St.<ref name="dc-1975-04-28-p2">Ramsay, C. (1975, April 28). [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AST3BBN4BW3C3F8M/pages/AH2PE4QPTT53ZV8U "Luigi's pizza unionizes, but owner may close."] ''The Daily Cardinal''. p. 2.</ref> It is not known to be connected with [[Luigi's Pizza]] on Midvale Boulevard.
 
==History==
Luigi's was in business by May 1972, when a run of classified personals declared "Luigi's pizza is delicious. Satisfied customers"<ref name="wsj-1972-05-06-p18">(1972, May 6). Personal advertisement: "Luigi's pizza is delicious. Satisfied customers". ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 18. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/400733767/ 400733767].</ref>. In June 1973 "Luigi's Pizza & Subs" advertised three stores, all delivering seven nights a week from 4 p.m.: 1026 N. Sherman Ave., 5308 Monona Dr. and 5710 Raymond Rd. in the Meadowood Shopping Center, where every 16-inch pizza came with a free pint of Chocolate House ice cream<ref name="ct-1973-06-07-p74">(1973, June 7). Luigi's Pizza & Subs advertisement listing three locations. ''The Capital Times''. p. 74. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/519687182/ 519687182].</ref><ref name="wsj-1973-06-18-p23">(1973, June 18). Luigi's Pizza Monday-special advertisement (1026 N. Sherman, 5308 Monona Dr., 5710 Raymond Rd.). ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 23. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/405766854/ 405766854].</ref>. The State Street shop followed that fall.
 
In the fall of 1973 Luigi's advertised "pizza-by-the-slice" in the Daily Cardinal — cheese 30¢, cheese and sausage 35¢ — months before [[Rocky Rococo]] opened<ref name="dc-1973-09-14-p10">(1973, September 14). [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ANRTVY6BQUH2VG8J/pages/A3IRZLOAPJ7GKM8C Luigi's pizza-by-the-slice advertisement.] ''The Daily Cardinal''. p. 10.</ref>. It came second in the Cardinal's 1973 pizza contest and took "the flat-crust (regular) crown" in 1974<ref name="dc-1973-12-07-p21">Staff, A. S. M. o. t. C. (1973, December 7). [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AYT6JBSLU7SDSN8J/pages/A7BIB6V4NSEQ529E "As the pizza turns..."] ''The Daily Cardinal''. p. 21.</ref><ref name="dc-1974-10-14-p11">Calhoun, H. (1974, October 14). [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AUAUB2N7IUYMQS9C/pages/AZFRDN3FZSSQKA8O "Pizza hits the pits; Rocky wins by default."] ''The Daily Cardinal''. p. 11.</ref>.
 
Gary Witte bought the State Street store about March 1975; he also ran a Luigi's Pizza on Raymond Road. On April 25, 1975, with all of the workers signed up, he recognized the Madison Independent Workers' Union as their bargaining agent, though he said he might close the State Street store for a time. "It's the only union pizza in town," one worker said<ref name="dc-1975-04-28-p2" />. The 1975 license list has De-He Enterprises, Inc. (Luigi's Pizza & Subs), with a North Sherman Avenue address<ref name="wsj-1975-05-28-p35">(1975, May 28). City of Madison license list, May 1975. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 35.</ref>. Luigi's was last in thin crust in the Cardinal's 1975 contest<ref name="dc-1975-11-04-p1">(1975, November 4). [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AFKR5452RGMKXO8M/pages/A6N32XJ63HHHL38M "Searching for the pie in the sky."] ''The Daily Cardinal''. p. 1.</ref>.
 
==Former Locations==
* 462 State St. (by September 1973<ref name="dc-1973-09-14-p10" /> to at least November 1975<ref name="dc-1975-11-04-p1" />).
* 1026 N. Sherman Ave. (by June 1973; the licensee's address in 1975)<ref name="ct-1973-06-07-p74" /><ref name="wsj-1975-05-28-p35" />. The address was later [[Cafe La Bellitalia]] (2006–2025)<ref name="ct-2006-08-18-p3">(2006, August 18). "Northside goes Sicilian": Pietro Pipitone converting 1026 N. Sherman Ave. into an Italian restaurant and pizzeria. ''The Capital Times''. p. 3. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522523052/ 522523052].</ref><ref name="mc-2026-01-16-closed-2025">Kalk Derby, S. (2026, January 16). [https://madison.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/article_a47a0935-1810-4873-9742-86ca7759311e.html "32 restaurants, bars and cafes that closed in the Madison area in 2025."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.
* 5308 Monona Dr. (1973)<ref name="ct-1973-06-07-p74" />.
* 5710 Raymond Rd., Meadowood Shopping Center (June 1973 to at least April 1975)<ref name="ct-1973-06-07-p74" /><ref name="dc-1975-04-28-p2" />.
 
==See also==
* [[Item:Q2905|Luigi's Pizza & Subs in the Madison Pizza Wiki database]]
* [[Daily Cardinal pizza contests]]


==External links==
==External links==

Latest revision as of 02:14, 29 October 2026

Luigi's Pizza & Subs was a small Madison pizza and sub chain of the 1970s, best remembered for its slice shop on State Street at the intersection with West Gilman Street. A 1973 photograph shows its sign, "Luigi's Pizza & Subs, Free Delivery", on the right-hand end of a brick building it shared with the Chocolate House ice cream parlor and the College Boot Shop[1].

Its address was 462 State St.[2] It is not known to be connected with Luigi's Pizza on Midvale Boulevard.

History

Luigi's was in business by May 1972, when a run of classified personals declared "Luigi's pizza is delicious. Satisfied customers"[3]. In June 1973 "Luigi's Pizza & Subs" advertised three stores, all delivering seven nights a week from 4 p.m.: 1026 N. Sherman Ave., 5308 Monona Dr. and 5710 Raymond Rd. in the Meadowood Shopping Center, where every 16-inch pizza came with a free pint of Chocolate House ice cream[4][5]. The State Street shop followed that fall.

In the fall of 1973 Luigi's advertised "pizza-by-the-slice" in the Daily Cardinal — cheese 30¢, cheese and sausage 35¢ — months before Rocky Rococo opened[6]. It came second in the Cardinal's 1973 pizza contest and took "the flat-crust (regular) crown" in 1974[7][8].

Gary Witte bought the State Street store about March 1975; he also ran a Luigi's Pizza on Raymond Road. On April 25, 1975, with all of the workers signed up, he recognized the Madison Independent Workers' Union as their bargaining agent, though he said he might close the State Street store for a time. "It's the only union pizza in town," one worker said[2]. The 1975 license list has De-He Enterprises, Inc. (Luigi's Pizza & Subs), with a North Sherman Avenue address[9]. Luigi's was last in thin crust in the Cardinal's 1975 contest[10].

Former Locations

  • 462 State St. (by September 1973[6] to at least November 1975[10]).
  • 1026 N. Sherman Ave. (by June 1973; the licensee's address in 1975)[4][9]. The address was later Cafe La Bellitalia (2006–2025)[11][12].
  • 5308 Monona Dr. (1973)[4].
  • 5710 Raymond Rd., Meadowood Shopping Center (June 1973 to at least April 1975)[4][2].

See also

External links

  • "Chocolate House", photograph by Bruce Garner, 1973. Wisconsin Historical Society, W01266W.

Notes

  1. ↑ Garner, B. (1973). "Chocolate House." Photograph, Wisconsin Historical Society, Unique ID W01266W (WHI 137869). Bruce Garner photographs of State Street area, Madison, Wisconsin, circa 1973.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ramsay, C. (1975, April 28). "Luigi's pizza unionizes, but owner may close." The Daily Cardinal. p. 2.
  3. ↑ (1972, May 6). Personal advertisement: "Luigi's pizza is delicious. Satisfied customers". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 18. Newspapers.com image 400733767.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 (1973, June 7). Luigi's Pizza & Subs advertisement listing three locations. The Capital Times. p. 74. Newspapers.com image 519687182.
  5. ↑ (1973, June 18). Luigi's Pizza Monday-special advertisement (1026 N. Sherman, 5308 Monona Dr., 5710 Raymond Rd.). Wisconsin State Journal. p. 23. Newspapers.com image 405766854.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 (1973, September 14). Luigi's pizza-by-the-slice advertisement. The Daily Cardinal. p. 10.
  7. ↑ Staff, A. S. M. o. t. C. (1973, December 7). "As the pizza turns..." The Daily Cardinal. p. 21.
  8. ↑ Calhoun, H. (1974, October 14). "Pizza hits the pits; Rocky wins by default." The Daily Cardinal. p. 11.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 (1975, May 28). City of Madison license list, May 1975. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 35.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 (1975, November 4). "Searching for the pie in the sky." The Daily Cardinal. p. 1.
  11. ↑ (2006, August 18). "Northside goes Sicilian": Pietro Pipitone converting 1026 N. Sherman Ave. into an Italian restaurant and pizzeria. The Capital Times. p. 3. Newspapers.com image 522523052.
  12. ↑ Kalk Derby, S. (2026, January 16). "32 restaurants, bars and cafes that closed in the Madison area in 2025." madison.com.
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