Glass Nickel Pizza: Difference between revisions

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'''Glass Nickel Pizza Co.''' has been serving pizza to Madison since November 1997<ref name="ct-1997-11-08-p41">(1997, November 8). Cheap Eats news: Glass Nickel Pizza Company opens. ''The Capital Times''. p. 41. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522191880/ 522191880].</ref>. It was founded by [[Brian Glassel]] and [[Tim Nicholson]], and the name is a combination of their last names<ref name="wsj-2024-01-14-pA3">Kalk Derby, S. (2024, January 14). "'Quite a project' for Glass Nickel." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. A3–A4. Newspapers.com images [https://www.newspapers.com/image/1031340937/ 1031340937], [https://www.newspapers.com/image/1031340962/ 1031340962].</ref>. All of its restaurants are in Wisconsin and are owned and run by former employees<ref name="wsj-2024-01-14-pA3" />.
'''Glass Nickel Pizza Co.''' has been serving pizza to Madison since November 1997<ref name="ct-1997-11-08-p41">Kalk, S. (1997, November 8). "Sal's success almost too much for it to handle." ''The Capital Times''. p. 41. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522191880/ 522191880].</ref>. It was founded by [[Brian Glassel]] and [[Tim Nicholson]], and the name is a combination of their last names<ref name="wsj-2024-01-14-pA3">Kalk Derby, S. (2024, January 14). "'Quite a project' for Glass Nickel." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. A3–A4. Newspapers.com images [https://www.newspapers.com/image/1031340937/ 1031340937], [https://www.newspapers.com/image/1031340962/ 1031340962].</ref>. All of its restaurants are in Wisconsin and are owned and run by former employees<ref name="wsj-2024-01-14-pA3" />.


==History==
==History==
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A second store, on the west side at Whitney Way and University Avenue, was due to open on October 1, 1999. It was owned by Tim Archer and Neil Spath, who had both worked at Glass Nickel since it opened. "Franchises are not awarded to strangers", Glassel said<ref name="wsj-1999-08-26-p61" />. A store in Fitchburg was open by July 2001<ref name="wsj-2001-07-05-p3">(2001, July 5). Attempted armed robbery at Glass Nickel, 3191 Muir Field Rd. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 3. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/407417144/ 407417144].</ref>. The company dates its Sun Prairie restaurant to 2004<ref name="web-gnp-sun-prairie">[https://www.glassnickelpizza.com/location/sun-prairie/ Glass Nickel Pizza Co. location page: Sun Prairie.] ''glassnickelpizza.com''. Retrieved September 28, 2026.</ref>.
A second store, on the west side at Whitney Way and University Avenue, was due to open on October 1, 1999. It was owned by Tim Archer and Neil Spath, who had both worked at Glass Nickel since it opened. "Franchises are not awarded to strangers", Glassel said<ref name="wsj-1999-08-26-p61" />. A store in Fitchburg was open by July 2001<ref name="wsj-2001-07-05-p3">(2001, July 5). Attempted armed robbery at Glass Nickel, 3191 Muir Field Rd. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 3. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/407417144/ 407417144].</ref>. The company dates its Sun Prairie restaurant to 2004<ref name="web-gnp-sun-prairie">[https://www.glassnickelpizza.com/location/sun-prairie/ Glass Nickel Pizza Co. location page: Sun Prairie.] ''glassnickelpizza.com''. Retrieved September 28, 2026.</ref>.


In October 2000 the owners' company bought CE's Tavern at 2415 Winnebago St. for $166,000, and in February 2001 the Plan Commission approved their $1 million two-storey building there — the restaurant, retail and nine apartments, designed by Design Coalition as "the first redevelopment project designed to upgrade the appearance of the East Washington Avenue corridor"; the restaurant was to move in that October<ref name="ct-2001-02-20-p5">Ivey, M. (2001, February 20). "East Wash area pizza shop plan OKd." ''The Capital Times''. p. 5. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522178823/ 522178823].</ref><ref name="ct-2003-05-20-p22">Ivey, M. (2003, May 20). "Rayovac site redevelopment: the Glass Nickel-owned building next door." ''The Capital Times''. p. 22. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522443808/ 522443808].</ref>. The building was never put up; the site became the High Noon Saloon in 2004<ref name="ct-2003-05-14-p1">Thomas, R. (2003, May 14). "O'Cayz owner plans High Noon Saloon on Winnebago Street." ''The Capital Times''. p. 1. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522533411/ 522533411].</ref>. Samara Kalk, meanwhile, had turned on a former favourite: a Survivor-finale order that took 90 minutes and arrived cold, a pizza truck outside Camp Randall, and delivery zones that stopped at Park Street on the east side and the Beltline on the west — "maybe when the Verona store opens soon I could get a pizza"<ref name="ct-2000-09-21-p61">Kalk, S. (2000, September 21). "Pie in the face." ''The Capital Times''. p. 61. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522186478/ 522186478].</ref>.
In October 2000 the owners' company bought CE's Tavern at 2415 Winnebago St. for $166,000, and in February 2001 the Plan Commission approved their $1 million two-story building there — the restaurant, retail and nine apartments, designed by Design Coalition as "the first redevelopment project designed to upgrade the appearance of the East Washington Avenue corridor"; the restaurant was to move in that October<ref name="ct-2001-02-20-p5">Ivey, M. (2001, February 20). "East Wash area pizza shop plan OKd." ''The Capital Times''. p. 5. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522178823/ 522178823].</ref><ref name="ct-2003-05-20-p22">Ivey, M. (2003, May 20). "Rayovac site redevelopment: the Glass Nickel-owned building next door." ''The Capital Times''. p. 22. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522443808/ 522443808].</ref>. The building was never put up; the site became the High Noon Saloon in 2004<ref name="ct-2003-05-14-p1">Thomas, R. (2003, May 14). "O'Cayz owner plans High Noon Saloon on Winnebago Street." ''The Capital Times''. p. 1. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522533411/ 522533411].</ref>. Samara Kalk, meanwhile, had turned on a former favorite: a Survivor-finale order that took 90 minutes and arrived cold, a pizza truck outside Camp Randall, and delivery zones that stopped at Park Street on the east side and the Beltline on the west — "maybe when the Verona store opens soon I could get a pizza"<ref name="ct-2000-09-21-p61">Kalk, S. (2000, September 21). "Pie in the face." ''The Capital Times''. p. 61. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522186478/ 522186478].</ref>.


The original store moved a mile east to [[2916 Atwood Avenue|2916 Atwood Ave.]] in 2001 by a 2024 account, at first for carryout and delivery only<ref name="wsj-2024-01-14-pA3" />; it was still at 2049 Atwood Ave. in February 2001<ref name="ct-2001-02-20-p5" />. A dining room with a waiter and two bars opened there about September 2002, in what had been a saloon "for as long as anyone can remember"<ref name="wsj-2002-10-14-p23">Martell, C. (2002, October 14). "Glass Nickel opens sit-down pizza place." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 23. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/407656609/ 407656609].</ref>. In January 2024 the restaurant expanded into the former laundromat next door; the building is also the headquarters for the nine franchises<ref name="wsj-2024-01-14-pA3" />.
The original store moved a mile east to [[2916 Atwood Avenue|2916 Atwood Ave.]] in 2001 by a 2024 account, at first for carryout and delivery only<ref name="wsj-2024-01-14-pA3" />; it was still at 2049 Atwood Ave. in February 2001<ref name="ct-2001-02-20-p5" />. A dining room with a waiter and two bars opened there about September 2002, in what had been a saloon "for as long as anyone can remember"<ref name="wsj-2002-10-14-p23">Martell, C. (2002, October 14). "Glass Nickel opens sit-down pizza place." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 23. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/407656609/ 407656609].</ref>. In January 2024 the restaurant expanded into the former laundromat next door; the building is also the headquarters for the nine franchises<ref name="wsj-2024-01-14-pA3" />.


State Journal readers voted Glass Nickel the best pizza in town in 2002<ref name="wsj-2002-08-14-p82">(2002, August 14). "Readers' poll: Madison's favourite pizza." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 82. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/407466715/ 407466715].</ref>, and the Capital Times gave the new dining room three stars in April 2003 — forest-green walls, Bell's Two Hearted Ale, specialty pies from $9.45 to $16.05 and "their top seller, the Feta-licious"<ref name="ct-2003-04-05-p44">Muckian, M. (2003, April 5). "Glass Nickel, Paisan's can satisfy." ''The Capital Times''. p. 44. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522429524/ 522429524].</ref>. In the Daily Cardinal's delivery poll that October the University Avenue store came third with the Feta-licious, "tastes better than it looks"<ref name="dc-2003-10-15-pizza-poll">Capecchi, L. (2003, October 15). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_540d6bb2-4337-56db-ada4-d745f277abcf.html "Pizza poll delivers."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref>, and Madison Magazine named the company a Best of Madison winner in 2004<ref name="ct-2004-06-19-p12">(2004, June 19). Madison Magazine Best of Madison 2004 winners, including Glass Nickel Pizza Co. ''The Capital Times''. p. 12. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522656792/ 522656792].</ref>. The State Journal's "Pizzas with pizzazz" of December 2004 told the founding story — the two met at Pizza Extreme, bankers turned them down because there were "too many pizza places", and by then they had added four operations, all run by former employees of the first store<ref name="wsj-2004-12-26-p21">Wallmeyer, A. (2004, December 26). "Pizzas with pizzazz: Gourmet pizza places are proliferating." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 21. Newspapers.com images [https://www.newspapers.com/image/406304963/ 406304963], [https://www.newspapers.com/image/406304963/ 406304963], [https://www.newspapers.com/image/406304975/ 406304975].</ref>.
State Journal readers voted Glass Nickel the best pizza in town in 2002<ref name="wsj-2002-08-14-p82">(2002, August 14). "Readers' poll: Madison's favorite pizza." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 82. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/407466715/ 407466715].</ref>, and the Capital Times gave the new dining room three stars in April 2003 — forest-green walls, Bell's Two Hearted Ale, specialty pies from $9.45 to $16.05 and "their top seller, the Feta-licious"<ref name="ct-2003-04-05-p44">Muckian, M. (2003, April 5). "Glass Nickel, Paisan's can satisfy." ''The Capital Times''. p. 44. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522429524/ 522429524].</ref>. In the Daily Cardinal's delivery poll that October the University Avenue store came third with the Feta-licious, "tastes better than it looks"<ref name="dc-2003-10-15-pizza-poll">Capecchi, L. (2003, October 15). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_540d6bb2-4337-56db-ada4-d745f277abcf.html "Pizza poll delivers."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref>, and Madison Magazine named the company a Best of Madison winner in 2004<ref name="ct-2004-06-19-p12">(2004, June 19). Madison Magazine Best of Madison 2004 winners, including Glass Nickel Pizza Co. ''The Capital Times''. p. 12. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522656792/ 522656792].</ref>. The State Journal's "Pizzas with pizzazz" of December 2004 told the founding story — the two met at Pizza Extreme, bankers turned them down because there were "too many pizza places", and by then they had added four operations, all run by former employees of the first store<ref name="wsj-2004-12-26-p21">Wallmeyer, A. (2004, December 26). "Pizzas with pizzazz: Gourmet pizza places are proliferating." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 21. Newspapers.com images [https://www.newspapers.com/image/406304963/ 406304963], [https://www.newspapers.com/image/406304963/ 406304963], [https://www.newspapers.com/image/406304975/ 406304975].</ref>.


By September 2005 there were five locations, and the trade magazine ''Pizza Today'' counted the Atwood Avenue store among the busiest in the country: it had 20 drivers, 12 to 15 of them out on a Saturday night, and had been robbed three times in eight years<ref name="mc-2005-09-15-glass-nickel-drivers">Evans, G. (2005, September 15). [https://madison.com/entertainment/article_7e14ff84-3642-5e5b-9474-fc156dc9581b.html "Glass Nickel delivers tasty slice of life."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. On Super Bowl Sunday 2005 Tim Nicholson delivered in his Mini Cooper, with the drivers raised from 10 to 12 for 55 to 60 deliveries an hour at the peak; Packer weekends, Rhythm and Booms and December 23 were bigger days<ref name="mc-2005-02-07-super-bowl-glass-nickel">Kittner, G. (2005, February 7). [https://madison.com/news/article_78a264b0-d9a0-53b5-930d-3c64c2710c45.html "Super Bowl keeps him going in superdrive: the pizza delivery guy."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. In September 2008 the company, then with seven restaurants and Nicholson as president, raised prices 5 percent rather than buy cheaper ingredients, and put a $21,000 solar water heater and LED lighting into the main store<ref name="mc-2008-09-01-glass-nickel-quality">Michel, R. (2008, September 1). [https://madison.com/business/b2b/article_8a1577db-c8e2-5421-99c8-a03a86168a17.html "Glass Nickel Pizza: will keep quality product."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; by 2009 its delivery trucks ran partly on used vegetable oil<ref name="dc-2009-04-08-glass-nickel-bite">Luo, J. (2009, April 8). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_8996444e-335a-5fff-a8d2-b322d492f5e9.html "A Bite of Madison: Glass Nickel Pizza Co."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref>.
By September 2005 there were five locations, and the trade magazine ''Pizza Today'' counted the Atwood Avenue store among the busiest in the country: it had 20 drivers, 12 to 15 of them out on a Saturday night, and had been robbed three times in eight years<ref name="mc-2005-09-15-glass-nickel-drivers">Evans, G. (2005, September 15). [https://madison.com/entertainment/article_7e14ff84-3642-5e5b-9474-fc156dc9581b.html "Glass Nickel delivers tasty slice of life."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. On Super Bowl Sunday 2005 Tim Nicholson delivered in his Mini Cooper, with the drivers raised from 10 to 12 for 55 to 60 deliveries an hour at the peak; Packer weekends, Rhythm and Booms and December 23 were bigger days<ref name="mc-2005-02-07-super-bowl-glass-nickel">Kittner, G. (2005, February 7). [https://madison.com/news/article_78a264b0-d9a0-53b5-930d-3c64c2710c45.html "Super Bowl keeps him going in superdrive: the pizza delivery guy."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. In September 2008 the company, then with seven restaurants and Nicholson as president, raised prices 5 percent rather than buy cheaper ingredients, and put a $21,000 solar water heater and LED lighting into the main store<ref name="mc-2008-09-01-glass-nickel-quality">Michel, R. (2008, September 1). [https://madison.com/business/b2b/article_8a1577db-c8e2-5421-99c8-a03a86168a17.html "Glass Nickel Pizza: will keep quality product."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; by 2009 its delivery trucks ran partly on used vegetable oil<ref name="dc-2009-04-08-glass-nickel-bite">Luo, J. (2009, April 8). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_8996444e-335a-5fff-a8d2-b322d492f5e9.html "A Bite of Madison: Glass Nickel Pizza Co."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref>.
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==Locations==
==Locations==
In the Madison area:
In the Madison area:
* [[2916 Atwood Avenue|2916 Atwood Ave]] (since 2001 by a 2024 account<ref name="wsj-2024-01-14-pA3" />, with the dining room from about September 2002<ref name="wsj-2002-10-14-p23" />; licensed in May 2026<ref name="wsj-2026-05-26-pB9">(2026, May 26). City of Madison licence list, May 2026. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. B9.</ref>).
* [[2916 Atwood Avenue|2916 Atwood Ave]] (since 2001 by a 2024 account<ref name="wsj-2024-01-14-pA3" />, with the dining room from about September 2002<ref name="wsj-2002-10-14-p23" />; licensed in May 2026<ref name="wsj-2026-05-26-pB9">(2026, May 26). City of Madison license list, May 2026. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. B9.</ref>).
* [[5003 University Avenue|5003 University Ave]] (since 1999<ref name="wsj-1999-08-26-p61" />).
* [[5003 University Avenue|5003 University Ave]] (since 1999<ref name="wsj-1999-08-26-p61" />).
* 3191 Muir Field Rd., Fitchburg (open by July 2001<ref name="wsj-2001-07-05-p3" />; the company gives 2001 as its start<ref name="web-gnp-fitchburg">[https://www.glassnickelpizza.com/location/fitchburg/ Glass Nickel Pizza Co. location page: Fitchburg.] ''glassnickelpizza.com''. Retrieved September 28, 2026.</ref>).
* 3191 Muir Field Rd., Fitchburg (open by July 2001<ref name="wsj-2001-07-05-p3" />; the company gives 2001 as its start<ref name="web-gnp-fitchburg">[https://www.glassnickelpizza.com/location/fitchburg/ Glass Nickel Pizza Co. location page: Fitchburg.] ''glassnickelpizza.com''. Retrieved September 28, 2026.</ref>).

Latest revision as of 15:05, 24 October 2026

Glass Nickel Pizza Co. has been serving pizza to Madison since November 1997[1]. It was founded by Brian Glassel and Tim Nicholson, and the name is a combination of their last names[2]. All of its restaurants are in Wisconsin and are owned and run by former employees[2].

History

Glassel and Nicholson met while working at Pizza Extreme. Glassel had owned Royal Pizza in Scranton, Pennsylvania, before moving to Madison about 1996. Between them they had worked in 25 pizza places[1].

They opened on Tuesday, November 4, 1997, at 2049 Atwood Ave., for takeout and delivery only[1]. They had been turned down for several other spaces; the developer Joe Krupp "was the only person who would agree to lease to a startup local pizza place at the time"[2]. In August 1999 readers of Isthmus voted it the best pizza and the best delivery in Madison. It then had 36 workers[3].

A second store, on the west side at Whitney Way and University Avenue, was due to open on October 1, 1999. It was owned by Tim Archer and Neil Spath, who had both worked at Glass Nickel since it opened. "Franchises are not awarded to strangers", Glassel said[3]. A store in Fitchburg was open by July 2001[4]. The company dates its Sun Prairie restaurant to 2004[5].

In October 2000 the owners' company bought CE's Tavern at 2415 Winnebago St. for $166,000, and in February 2001 the Plan Commission approved their $1 million two-story building there — the restaurant, retail and nine apartments, designed by Design Coalition as "the first redevelopment project designed to upgrade the appearance of the East Washington Avenue corridor"; the restaurant was to move in that October[6][7]. The building was never put up; the site became the High Noon Saloon in 2004[8]. Samara Kalk, meanwhile, had turned on a former favorite: a Survivor-finale order that took 90 minutes and arrived cold, a pizza truck outside Camp Randall, and delivery zones that stopped at Park Street on the east side and the Beltline on the west — "maybe when the Verona store opens soon I could get a pizza"[9].

The original store moved a mile east to 2916 Atwood Ave. in 2001 by a 2024 account, at first for carryout and delivery only[2]; it was still at 2049 Atwood Ave. in February 2001[6]. A dining room with a waiter and two bars opened there about September 2002, in what had been a saloon "for as long as anyone can remember"[10]. In January 2024 the restaurant expanded into the former laundromat next door; the building is also the headquarters for the nine franchises[2].

State Journal readers voted Glass Nickel the best pizza in town in 2002[11], and the Capital Times gave the new dining room three stars in April 2003 — forest-green walls, Bell's Two Hearted Ale, specialty pies from $9.45 to $16.05 and "their top seller, the Feta-licious"[12]. In the Daily Cardinal's delivery poll that October the University Avenue store came third with the Feta-licious, "tastes better than it looks"[13], and Madison Magazine named the company a Best of Madison winner in 2004[14]. The State Journal's "Pizzas with pizzazz" of December 2004 told the founding story — the two met at Pizza Extreme, bankers turned them down because there were "too many pizza places", and by then they had added four operations, all run by former employees of the first store[15].

By September 2005 there were five locations, and the trade magazine Pizza Today counted the Atwood Avenue store among the busiest in the country: it had 20 drivers, 12 to 15 of them out on a Saturday night, and had been robbed three times in eight years[16]. On Super Bowl Sunday 2005 Tim Nicholson delivered in his Mini Cooper, with the drivers raised from 10 to 12 for 55 to 60 deliveries an hour at the peak; Packer weekends, Rhythm and Booms and December 23 were bigger days[17]. In September 2008 the company, then with seven restaurants and Nicholson as president, raised prices 5 percent rather than buy cheaper ingredients, and put a $21,000 solar water heater and LED lighting into the main store[18]; by 2009 its delivery trucks ran partly on used vegetable oil[19].

The downtown Sun Prairie restaurant, at 101 W. Main St., was destroyed in the gas explosion of July 10, 2018[20]. It reopened in a temporary location at 815 W. Main St.[21] and is now at 410 E. Main St.[5] The franchisee, Adam Bougie, ran the temporary store for carryout and delivery only for three years; he put off the new building at first because of COVID-19, and said the temporary store "was set up to withstand the pandemic". The new "Bougie Building" has room for about 150 diners and nine apartments above[22]. In the first weeks of the 2020 shutdown Glass Nickel's delivery volume held about level; it stopped taking cash and set rules for no-contact delivery[23].

In August 2026 the west side store announced that it would move to Allen Boulevard in Middleton, probably in 2027, because its building is part of an apartment redevelopment[24].

Pizza

  • At the opening there were 30 toppings and five specialty pizzas, among them the Feta-licious (spinach, red onion, tomato, mushroom, feta and three other cheeses) and La Fiesta (salsa and refried bean sauce with red peppers, corn, bacon, red onions and cheddar). The dough was made in the store, with a new variety tried each week[1].
  • In 2003 the specialty pies included the Border-to-Border (hot marinara, tomatoes, jalapeños, pineapple and Canadian bacon) and the Socre Bleu (Canadian bacon, salami, tomato, onion, bleu cheese and walnuts), with the Feta-licious the top seller[12]. For the 2004 holidays Neil Spath made "The Gobbler" at the University Avenue store: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy[15].
  • By 2002 there were more than 40 toppings. The reviewer described the crust as "middling thick, not a meager wafer nor a doughy sponge"[10].
  • The Feta-Licious was the best seller of the 16 specialty pizzas in 2005[16]. A student guide in 2009 named the Fetalicious, the all-meat Cardiac Arrest and the spicy Border-to-Border as the signatures, with Nickel Nuggets (fried pizza dough with Parmesan and marinara) to start[19]. The Cheesasaurus was the pizza a Capital Times reviewer said she would take over a correct Neapolitan "any day" in 2007[25].
  • The Fetalicious was still "one of the franchise's most popular pies" in 2016. The cheese is a house blend: mostly mozzarella, a little provolone and less cheddar[26].
  • The Phoenix (chipotle alfredo sauce, blackened chicken, roasted red peppers, banana peppers and roasted garlic) was created by co-owner Katie Bracey for the reopening of the west side store after its fire[26].

Pizza (seasonal)

  • Glass Nickel's Thanksgiving-season pizza is the Green Gobbler[27].

Trivia

  • The Fetalicious won the Capital Times' poll for the area's best pizza in November 2013, with 24 percent of 2,716 votes[28][29].
  • In 2014 the Atwood Avenue flagship sold about 600 pizzas a day; the chain then had nine locations, and had 16 drivers out on Super Bowl Sunday[30]. The Monkey Business Institute improv troupe performed weekly at the Atwood store in the early 2010s[31].
  • The partners had written down 900 possible names when a relative, Glassel's aunt, suggested Glass Nickel[1][2].
  • In August 1999 Glass Nickel took over the former Rozino's pizza truck, which sold pizza on Langdon Street late at night. An employee owned the truck and bought the pizza from Glass Nickel to resell[3].
  • The basement bar at 2916 Atwood Ave. was called the Dime Store[10].
  • A fire on February 12, 2016, did about half a million dollars of damage to the west side store. It was probably started by greasy kitchen rags in a dryer. The store reopened on June 1, 2016, with the staff in phoenix T-shirts[26][32]. Its insurance claim came to about $700,000; the store had been there since 1999[33].
  • A "well-dressed" gunman robbed the University Avenue store on December 3, 2000, and was chased by employees[34]; a driver was robbed at gunpoint on Lakelawn Place in April 2004[35].
  • There was an attempted armed robbery at the Fitchburg store on July 3, 2001[4][36], and an employee leaving it was robbed at gunpoint on July 19, 2007[37].
  • Bad checks cost the company about $2,000 a month in 2005[16].
  • Three days after opening in 1997, the founders hired their first employee, who in 2024 was one of the two general managers of the east side restaurant[2].

Locations

In the Madison area:

  • 2916 Atwood Ave (since 2001 by a 2024 account[2], with the dining room from about September 2002[10]; licensed in May 2026[38]).
  • 5003 University Ave (since 1999[3]).
  • 3191 Muir Field Rd., Fitchburg (open by July 2001[4]; the company gives 2001 as its start[39]).
  • 410 E. Main St., Sun Prairie[5].

In September 2026 the company's website also listed restaurants in Appleton, Brookfield, Green Bay, Neenah-Menasha, Waukesha and Rib Mountain (Wausau).

Former Locations

  • 2049 Atwood Ave. (November 4, 1997, to 2001 or 2002; still there in February 2001[6]).
  • 101 W. Main St., Sun Prairie (to July 10, 2018). A plan announced in January 2000 had been for a store at 1260 W. Main St.[40]
  • 815 W. Main St., Sun Prairie (temporary; open in August 2019[21]).

External links

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Kalk, S. (1997, November 8). "Sal's success almost too much for it to handle." The Capital Times. p. 41. Newspapers.com image 522191880.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Kalk Derby, S. (2024, January 14). "'Quite a project' for Glass Nickel." Wisconsin State Journal. p. A3–A4. Newspapers.com images 1031340937, 1031340962.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Kalk, S. (1999, August 26). Sal's listed for sale; Glass Nickel expands to west side. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 61. Newspapers.com images 402056959, 522664495.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 (2001, July 5). Attempted armed robbery at Glass Nickel, 3191 Muir Field Rd. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 3. Newspapers.com image 407417144.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Glass Nickel Pizza Co. location page: Sun Prairie. glassnickelpizza.com. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Ivey, M. (2001, February 20). "East Wash area pizza shop plan OKd." The Capital Times. p. 5. Newspapers.com image 522178823.
  7. ↑ Ivey, M. (2003, May 20). "Rayovac site redevelopment: the Glass Nickel-owned building next door." The Capital Times. p. 22. Newspapers.com image 522443808.
  8. ↑ Thomas, R. (2003, May 14). "O'Cayz owner plans High Noon Saloon on Winnebago Street." The Capital Times. p. 1. Newspapers.com image 522533411.
  9. ↑ Kalk, S. (2000, September 21). "Pie in the face." The Capital Times. p. 61. Newspapers.com image 522186478.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Martell, C. (2002, October 14). "Glass Nickel opens sit-down pizza place." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 23. Newspapers.com image 407656609.
  11. ↑ (2002, August 14). "Readers' poll: Madison's favorite pizza." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 82. Newspapers.com image 407466715.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Muckian, M. (2003, April 5). "Glass Nickel, Paisan's can satisfy." The Capital Times. p. 44. Newspapers.com image 522429524.
  13. ↑ Capecchi, L. (2003, October 15). "Pizza poll delivers." The Daily Cardinal.
  14. ↑ (2004, June 19). Madison Magazine Best of Madison 2004 winners, including Glass Nickel Pizza Co. The Capital Times. p. 12. Newspapers.com image 522656792.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Wallmeyer, A. (2004, December 26). "Pizzas with pizzazz: Gourmet pizza places are proliferating." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 21. Newspapers.com images 406304963, 406304963, 406304975.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Evans, G. (2005, September 15). "Glass Nickel delivers tasty slice of life." madison.com.
  17. ↑ Kittner, G. (2005, February 7). "Super Bowl keeps him going in superdrive: the pizza delivery guy." madison.com.
  18. ↑ Michel, R. (2008, September 1). "Glass Nickel Pizza: will keep quality product." madison.com.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Luo, J. (2009, April 8). "A Bite of Madison: Glass Nickel Pizza Co." The Daily Cardinal.
  20. ↑ (2018, July 11). Sun Prairie gas explosion: fire engulfs The Barr House and Glass Nickel. Wisconsin State Journal. p. A1. Newspapers.com image 461399821.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 (2019, August 25). Glass Nickel Pizza advertisement listing 815 W. Main St., Sun Prairie. Wisconsin State Journal. p. A5. Newspapers.com image 597079708.
  22. ↑ Kalk Derby, S. (2021, November 1). "Post explosion: New Glass Nickel Pizza taking shape in Sun Prairie will be more 'bougie'." madison.com.
  23. ↑ Rickert, C. (2020, March 28). "Quintessential American delivery: Pizzerias adjust, hope to ride out COVID-19 pandemic." madison.com.
  24. ↑ (2026, August 21). "Not moving far." Wisconsin State Journal. p. A1, A5.
  25. ↑ Kalk Derby, S. (2007, August 2). "Cafe Porta Alba may be too correct for its own good." madison.com.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Christians, L. (2016, July 6). "The new Phoenix pizza celebrates west side Glass Nickel's rise from the fire." The Capital Times. p. 32. Newspapers.com image 521037659.
  27. ↑ Lay, C. (2018, November 22). "Let's Eat: Give thanks for Ian's Pizza's tasty turkey-and-stuffing stunt slice." madison.com.
  28. ↑ (2013, November 17). "Poll on Madison area's best pizza launches week's most-read items." madison.com.
  29. ↑ (2013, November 20). Best-pizza poll photo page: Porta Alba's Alpina, Greenbush Bar, Glass Nickel's Fetalicious, Grampa's Barberini, Paisan's Super Hot and Salvatore's Fig and Bacon. The Capital Times. p. 13. Newspapers.com image 520984544.
  30. ↑ Adams, B. (2014, January 31). "Local pizza also shines on Super Bowl Sunday." madison.com.
  31. ↑ (2010, December 30). Glass Nickel advertisement: "Award Winning Pizza since 1997", 2916 Atwood Ave. The Capital Times. p. 3. Newspapers.com image 522525046.
  32. ↑ Christians, L. (2016, June 27). "The new Phoenix pizza celebrates west side Glass Nickel's rise from the fire." madison.com.
  33. ↑ Christians, L. (2018, August 8). "After disaster: When a restaurant suffers a catastrophe, the road to recovery is complicated and public." madison.com.
  34. ↑ (2000, December 5). "Glass Nickel store robbed." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 2. Newspapers.com image 406786995.
  35. ↑ Nowlen, C. (2004, April 26). "Police seek man who robbed pizza deliverer at gunpoint." The Capital Times. p. 22. Newspapers.com image 529144466.
  36. ↑ Kalk, S. (2001, July 5). "'Kids with masks' try to rob pizza shop." The Capital Times. p. 3. Newspapers.com image 522188883.
  37. ↑ (2007, July 20). "Police looking for Glass Nickel robber." madison.com.
  38. ↑ (2026, May 26). City of Madison license list, May 2026. Wisconsin State Journal. p. B9.
  39. ↑ Glass Nickel Pizza Co. location page: Fitchburg. glassnickelpizza.com. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  40. ↑ (2000, January 19). Sun Prairie News: Glass Nickel plans a Sun Prairie store. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 47. Newspapers.com image 397352946.
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