Amato’s Holiday House: Difference between revisions

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New page: Amato's Holiday House, 515 S. Park St. (by 1949–1960s), "Madison's Finest Pizza"
 
Add the 1947 opening as a frozen custard restaurant, the 1951 remodeling, the owners and the 1991 closing
 
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'''Amato’s Holiday House''' was an Italian restaurant at 515 S. Park St., in the Greenbush neighborhood. It was advertising as Amato's by January 1949<ref name="wsj-1949-01-14-p11">(1949, January 14). "Pizza Pie Pizza Pie Pizza — Yes we're still the home of Pizza Pie" — 3 Sisters Dining Room, Tony's Bar, 736 W. Washington Ave. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 11. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/401296779/ 401296779].</ref>. By 1958 it called its pizza "Madison's Finest PIZZA, Served or Carry Out"<ref name="wsj-1958-11-07-p24">(1958, November 7). Carlo's Carry-Out Food Service, 435 State St.: "We deliver". ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 24. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/397160527/ 397160527].</ref>.
'''Amato’s Holiday House''' was an Italian restaurant at 515 S. Park St., in the Greenbush neighborhood. It opened in November 1947 as Amato's Frozen Custard Restaurant<ref name="ct-1947-11-12-p6">(1947, November 12). "Now open!" Amato's Frozen Custard Restaurant, 515 S. Park St.: complete dinners, lunches, sandwiches and fountain service. ''The Capital Times''. p. 6. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/518277461/ 518277461].</ref>. Sam and Roselyn Amato ran it for 43 years, until it closed in 1991<ref name="madmag-2010-10-20-boomer-bust">Beilke, D. (2010, October 20). [https://www.channel3000.com/madison-magazine/city-life/boomer-bust/article_ac2fd804-0596-52c8-afdc-fb5b49fe289a.html "Boomer Bust."] ''Madison Magazine''.</ref>. By 1958 it called its pizza "Madison's Finest PIZZA, Served or Carry Out"<ref name="wsj-1958-11-07-p24">(1958, November 7). Carlo's Carry-Out Food Service, 435 State St.: "We deliver". ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 24. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/397160527/ 397160527].</ref>.


==History==
==History==
In January 1949 Amato's advertised shrimp dinners and frozen custard<ref name="wsj-1949-01-14-p11" />. In December 1953, as Amato's Holiday House, it announced that it had been "remodeled! enlarged!", with a freshly decorated kitchen, parking and rooms for private parties<ref name="ct-1953-12-11-p30">(1953, December 11). Amato's Holiday House "remodeled! enlarged!": "Our modern kitchen now freshly decorated, too!"; parking; private parties. ''The Capital Times''. p. 30. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/518620508/ 518620508].</ref>.
On November 12, 1947, a "Now Open!" ad for Amato's Frozen Custard Restaurant offered "complete dinners, lunches, sandwiches, and fountain service"<ref name="ct-1947-11-12-p6" />. In January 1949 Amato's advertised shrimp dinners and frozen custard<ref name="wsj-1949-01-14-p11">(1949, January 14). "Pizza Pie Pizza Pie Pizza — Yes we're still the home of Pizza Pie" — 3 Sisters Dining Room, Tony's Bar, 736 W. Washington Ave. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 11. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/401296779/ 401296779].</ref>. In late 1951 it closed for remodeling from November 26 to December 7 and put its "Frozen Custard Equipment for Sale"<ref name="ct-1951-11-26-p8">(1951, November 26). Amato's Restaurant closed November 26 to December 7 for remodeling; "Frozen Custard Equipment for Sale". ''The Capital Times''. p. 8. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/521609644/ 521609644].</ref>. In December 1953, as Amato's Holiday House, it announced that it had been "remodeled! enlarged!", with a freshly decorated kitchen, parking and rooms for private parties<ref name="ct-1953-12-11-p30">(1953, December 11). Amato's Holiday House "remodeled! enlarged!": "Our modern kitchen now freshly decorated, too!"; parking; private parties. ''The Capital Times''. p. 30. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/518620508/ 518620508].</ref>.


Tony Schiavo, later of Antonio's and Café Continental, worked at Amato's as a boy; it was owned by a relative. He washed dishes there from the age of 8 or 9, and at 15, "before he had a driver's license, he was making and delivering pizzas"<ref name="mc-2011-11-02-schiavo-obituary">Kalk Derby, S. (2011, November 2). [https://madison.com/news/local/article_fbbcdbba-05a0-11e1-966a-001cc4c002e0.html "Restaurateur 'Tony' Schiavo dies of cancer at age 68."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.
Tony Schiavo, later of Antonio's and Café Continental, worked at Amato's as a boy; it was owned by a relative. He washed dishes there from the age of 8 or 9, and at 15, "before he had a driver's license, he was making and delivering pizzas"<ref name="mc-2011-11-02-schiavo-obituary">Kalk Derby, S. (2011, November 2). [https://madison.com/news/local/article_fbbcdbba-05a0-11e1-966a-001cc4c002e0.html "Restaurateur 'Tony' Schiavo dies of cancer at age 68."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.


When Amato's closed has not been found.
Madison Magazine wrote in 2010 that for most of the years Sam and Roselyn Amato ran it, the restaurant was a hangout for many of Madison's political movers and shakers. Amato's closed in 1991, and La Hacienda now occupies the space<ref name="madmag-2010-10-20-boomer-bust" />. A family member later wrote that it closed because the owner's health was failing<ref name="fb-2020-05-13-amatos-holiday-house">(2020, May 13). [https://www.facebook.com/groups/159700503902/posts/10158180225603903/ "Post with a photo of Amato's Holiday House, Historic Madison Wi. photo group."] ''Facebook''.</ref>.


==Pizza==
==Pizza==
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==Trivia==
==Trivia==
* The [[Greenbush Bar]] bakes its pizzas in the old brick oven from Amato's<ref name="mc-2006-08-10-greenbush-secret">Evans, G. (2006, August 10). [https://madison.com/entertainment/article_3b42ba0a-203d-5dc8-827a-7f0c5ab6303d.html "Secret's out: Greenbush Bar is worth a visit."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.
* The [[Greenbush Bar]] bakes its pizzas in the old brick oven from Amato's<ref name="mc-2006-08-10-greenbush-secret">Evans, G. (2006, August 10). [https://madison.com/entertainment/article_3b42ba0a-203d-5dc8-827a-7f0c5ab6303d.html "Secret's out: Greenbush Bar is worth a visit."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.
* In a local-history group online, a former customer remembered tasting pizza for the first time at Amato's, where free samples were set out on a baby grand piano in the bar during sing-alongs. Others remembered the Friday fish fry, for which it was hard to get a table, and the table jukeboxes<ref name="fb-2021-10-21-amatos-custard">(2021, October 21). [https://www.facebook.com/groups/159700503902/posts/10159418115578903/ "Post of the 1947 Amato's Frozen Custard Restaurant ad, Historic Madison Wi. photo group."] ''Facebook''.</ref>.
* One online post called it one of the very best fish fries in Madison<ref name="fb-2020-05-13-amatos-holiday-house" />. A photo shared by Sam Amato's daughter shows him cooking pasta for the restaurant's lasagna<ref name="fb-2023-07-03-amatos-kitchen">(2023, July 3). [https://www.facebook.com/groups/333827440359540/posts/1537868656622073/ "Post with a photo of Sam Amato in the Amato's Holiday House kitchen, Forgotten Wisconsin group."] ''Facebook''.</ref>.


==Locations==
==Locations==
* 515 S. Park St. (by 1949 to at least 1960).
* 515 S. Park St. (1947–1991).


==See also==
==See also==
* [[1940s (decade)]]
* [[1950s (decade)]]
* [[1950s (decade)]]
* [[1990s (decade)]]
* [[Item:Q3085|Amato’s Holiday House in the Madison Pizza Wiki database]]
* [[Item:Q3085|Amato’s Holiday House in the Madison Pizza Wiki database]]


==Notes==
==Notes==
<references />
<references />

Latest revision as of 19:23, 28 October 2026

Amato’s Holiday House was an Italian restaurant at 515 S. Park St., in the Greenbush neighborhood. It opened in November 1947 as Amato's Frozen Custard Restaurant[1]. Sam and Roselyn Amato ran it for 43 years, until it closed in 1991[2]. By 1958 it called its pizza "Madison's Finest PIZZA, Served or Carry Out"[3].

History

On November 12, 1947, a "Now Open!" ad for Amato's Frozen Custard Restaurant offered "complete dinners, lunches, sandwiches, and fountain service"[1]. In January 1949 Amato's advertised shrimp dinners and frozen custard[4]. In late 1951 it closed for remodeling from November 26 to December 7 and put its "Frozen Custard Equipment for Sale"[5]. In December 1953, as Amato's Holiday House, it announced that it had been "remodeled! enlarged!", with a freshly decorated kitchen, parking and rooms for private parties[6].

Tony Schiavo, later of Antonio's and Café Continental, worked at Amato's as a boy; it was owned by a relative. He washed dishes there from the age of 8 or 9, and at 15, "before he had a driver's license, he was making and delivering pizzas"[7].

Madison Magazine wrote in 2010 that for most of the years Sam and Roselyn Amato ran it, the restaurant was a hangout for many of Madison's political movers and shakers. Amato's closed in 1991, and La Hacienda now occupies the space[2]. A family member later wrote that it closed because the owner's health was failing[8].

Pizza

  • 1958: "Madison's Finest PIZZA, Served or Carry Out"[3].
  • 1960: "The Finest in Pizzas," in an ad in the Daily Cardinal[9].

Trivia

  • The Greenbush Bar bakes its pizzas in the old brick oven from Amato's[10].
  • In a local-history group online, a former customer remembered tasting pizza for the first time at Amato's, where free samples were set out on a baby grand piano in the bar during sing-alongs. Others remembered the Friday fish fry, for which it was hard to get a table, and the table jukeboxes[11].
  • One online post called it one of the very best fish fries in Madison[8]. A photo shared by Sam Amato's daughter shows him cooking pasta for the restaurant's lasagna[12].

Locations

  • 515 S. Park St. (1947–1991).

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 (1947, November 12). "Now open!" Amato's Frozen Custard Restaurant, 515 S. Park St.: complete dinners, lunches, sandwiches and fountain service. The Capital Times. p. 6. Newspapers.com image 518277461.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Beilke, D. (2010, October 20). "Boomer Bust." Madison Magazine.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 (1958, November 7). Carlo's Carry-Out Food Service, 435 State St.: "We deliver". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 24. Newspapers.com image 397160527.
  4. ↑ (1949, January 14). "Pizza Pie Pizza Pie Pizza — Yes we're still the home of Pizza Pie" — 3 Sisters Dining Room, Tony's Bar, 736 W. Washington Ave. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 11. Newspapers.com image 401296779.
  5. ↑ (1951, November 26). Amato's Restaurant closed November 26 to December 7 for remodeling; "Frozen Custard Equipment for Sale". The Capital Times. p. 8. Newspapers.com image 521609644.
  6. ↑ (1953, December 11). Amato's Holiday House "remodeled! enlarged!": "Our modern kitchen now freshly decorated, too!"; parking; private parties. The Capital Times. p. 30. Newspapers.com image 518620508.
  7. ↑ Kalk Derby, S. (2011, November 2). "Restaurateur 'Tony' Schiavo dies of cancer at age 68." madison.com.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 (2020, May 13). "Post with a photo of Amato's Holiday House, Historic Madison Wi. photo group." Facebook.
  9. ↑ (1960, December 9). "Carlo's Pizza Delivered To Your Room", 435 State St., open till 1 a.m. The Daily Cardinal. p. 6.
  10. ↑ Evans, G. (2006, August 10). "Secret's out: Greenbush Bar is worth a visit." madison.com.
  11. ↑ (2021, October 21). "Post of the 1947 Amato's Frozen Custard Restaurant ad, Historic Madison Wi. photo group." Facebook.
  12. ↑ (2023, July 3). "Post with a photo of Sam Amato in the Amato's Holiday House kitchen, Forgotten Wisconsin group." Facebook.
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