Urban Pizza Cafe: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
Urban Pizza Co. opened in November 1997, in the same week as [[Glass Nickel Pizza]] and Pizza Planet, and with the Glass Nickel "helped introduce Madison to gourmet pizza", the State Journal wrote in 2004; its owner Bob Sieger had no plans to expand: "It's not a big operation … We're a neighborhood thing; we get 20 pizzas — and that's fine."<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> The city's | Urban Pizza Co. opened in November 1997, in the same week as [[Glass Nickel Pizza]] and Pizza Planet. Within a month Chris Martell of the State Journal had reviewed it as "another new contender for the best new pizza in Madison honors", paired with the new [[Sal’s Pizzeria|Sal's]] on State Street. Her bottom line: "Pizza doesn't get much better than this." The galvanized chicken pizza, a weekly special with basil-marinated chicken, garlic-roasted red potato slices and red onions in a Gorgonzola sauce on a crisp homemade crust, "deserves to become part of the regular menu"; the Green Piece was "a messy but delicious concoction" of broccoli, mushrooms, black olives, onions, cheese and tomato sauce. Pizzas were $3.95 to $5.95 in the "spryte" size and $8.75 to $12.75 for a 12-inch, handed out through a pick-up window, and the Urban Bowl ($4.95) and Greek ($3.75) salads had homemade dressings. The room had "the New York industrial loft look", at sidewalk level with lots of windows and acid-green walls; the hours were 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, to midnight Friday and Saturday and 11 to 9 on Sunday<ref name="wsj-1997-12-07-p56">Becker, D. and Pizza), D. B. a. C. M. (1997, December 7). "Two pizzerias vie for best of Madison's best new eats." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 56. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/401422712/ 401422712].</ref>. With the Glass Nickel it "helped introduce Madison to gourmet pizza", the State Journal wrote in 2004; its owner Bob Sieger had no plans to expand: "It's not a big operation … We're a neighborhood thing; we get 20 pizzas — and that's fine."<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> The city's license lists of 2000 to 2003 carried "Urban Pizza Co., Inc. dba Urban Pizza Co." with Robert J. Cuomo and then the manager Casey Gryske as agent<ref name="ct-2000-05-25-p12">(2000, May 25). City of Madison license renewal applications, 2000–01 (pages 12–13). ''The Capital Times''. p. 12. Newspapers.com images [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522191464/ 522191464], [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522191464/ 522191464], [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522191472/ 522191472].</ref><ref name="ct-2002-05-21-p4">(2002, May 21). City of Madison license renewal applications, 2002–03 (pages 4–5). ''The Capital Times''. p. 4. Newspapers.com images [https://www.newspapers.com/image/526007657/ 526007657], [https://www.newspapers.com/image/526007657/ 526007657], [https://www.newspapers.com/image/526007659/ 526007659].</ref>. When cheese prices soared in 2001 Gryske said the shop had two suppliers competing, "but we're already kind of a high-end place so we can't really raise our prices"<ref name="ct-2001-09-05-p1">Ivey, M. (2001, September 5). "Eating up profits: Cheese prices hurt pizza places." ''The Capital Times''. p. 1. Newspapers.com images [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522189987/ 522189987], [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522189987/ 522189987], [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522190014/ 522190014].</ref>. In October 2003 "The Urban Pizza Company" won the Daily Cardinal's pizza poll outright with the Adoris, delivered in 27 minutes for $6.85 — "for sure, the prettiest pizza"<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>. | ||
The city licensed Urban Pizza Co., Inc. for liquor and beer in May 1998 with John S. Manchester as agent<ref name="ct-1998-05-26-p4">(1998, May 26). "City of Madison license applications, June 2, 1998 (Ray Fisher, city clerk; published May 25–27)." ''The Capital Times''. p. 4–5. Newspapers.com images [https://www.newspapers.com/image/521509437/ 521509437], [https://www.newspapers.com/image/521509449/ 521509449].</ref>, and the October 1998 restaurant guide listed it at 250-4797, open to 10 p.m. on weekdays, 11 on Friday and Saturday and 9 on Sunday, with entrées of $10 to $15<ref name="ct-1998-10-29-p114">(1998, October 29). "Pizzerias (continued, 'Page 31')." ''The Capital Times''. p. 114. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522544155/ 522544155].</ref>. | |||
The corner belonged to the Madison architect and developer Bob Sieger, whose properties there included "the Urban Journey pizza and coffee shop and the Grid Iron tavern". From 2005 he tried to win approval for Fieldhouse Station, a $12 million retail and condominium project on the site; the plans stalled in the Plan Commission in 2007<ref name="ct-2007-01-09-p31">(2007, January 9). Fieldhouse Station on hold: developer Bob Sieger owns the Monroe–Regent corner properties including the Urban Journey pizza and coffee shop. ''The Capital Times''. p. 31. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522447403/ 522447403].</ref><ref name="ct-2007-07-10-p10">(2007, July 10). "Fieldhouse gridlock: Regent-Monroe plan still stalled." ''The Capital Times''. p. 10. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522435345/ 522435345].</ref>. By then the pizzeria was gone: the city's list of businesses whose liquor | Sieger owned the building by April 2000, when he and Tom Brunner bought the Copper Grid tavern next door at 1509 Monroe St. from its owners of 35 years<ref name="wsj-2000-05-02-p16">(2000, May 2). "Copper Grid sold." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 16. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/407386298/ 407386298].</ref>; by 2001 the pair were "the Gridiron/Urban Pizza"<ref name="ct-2001-11-15-p15">(2001, November 15). "Food drive set for Saturday Badger game." ''The Capital Times''. p. 15. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522228242/ 522228242].</ref>, and on football Saturdays Urban Pizza ran a beer garden<ref name="ct-2000-09-01-p6">(2000, September 1). Fans' reactions to the UW Shoe Box suspensions; one interviewed 'standing in front of the Urban Pizza beer garden'. ''The Capital Times''. p. 6. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522643806/ 522643806].</ref>. Sandra Kallio's three-star review in May 2003 praised "gourmet pizzas and salads, Sprecher soda and a good selection of bottled beers, fresh-baked cookies, tabletop games and a party room that can be reserved for free", with counter service and only six parking spaces; a cheese pizza was $8.95 and a specialty $13.49, thin crust from $6.89, and slices $2.50 at lunch and dinner<ref name="ct-2003-05-01-p75">Kallio, S. (2003, May 1). "Urban Pizza toppings more than enough." ''The Capital Times''. p. 75. Newspapers.com images [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522527863/ 522527863], [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522527870/ 522527870].</ref>. That spring Robert Oldenburg applied for the beer and wine license as The Urban Pizza Company, an application the council placed on file<ref name="ct-2003-03-04-p20">(2003, March 4). "Alcohol License Review Committee hearing notice (April 8, 2003)." ''The Capital Times''. p. 20. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522653179/ 522653179].</ref><ref name="ct-2003-05-26-p7">(2003, May 26). "Common Council proceedings: ALRC report." ''The Capital Times''. p. 7. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522445492/ 522445492].</ref>. An Urban Pizza employee appears in a Capital Times story of April 2004 about the Regent Street neighborhood, and in June 2004 the city council approved a change of corporate name, "Urban Pizza Cafe, LLC, formerly Urban Pizza Co., Inc., dba Urban Pizza Co., 1501 Monroe Street"<ref name="ct-2005-05-23-p5">(2005, May 23). City of Madison license renewal list, May 2005 (continued): Casa Bianca, Pizza Pit, Pizzeria Uno, Glass Nickel, Pizza Di Roma, Urban Pizza Cafe. ''The Capital Times''. p. 5. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/525987738/ 525987738].</ref>. The license, with Robert Sieger as agent, was renewed each May from 2005 to 2007<ref name="ct-2005-05-23-p5" /><ref name="ct-2007-05-28-p4">(2007, May 28). City of Madison license renewal list, May 2007: Rocky Rococo (8 stores), Cafe Porta Alba, Casa Bianca, Pizza Pit, Urban Pizza Cafe, Pizza Di Roma, Pizza Hut, Unos, Roman Candle. ''The Capital Times''. p. 4. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/529156052/ 529156052].</ref>. | ||
The corner belonged to the Madison architect and developer Bob Sieger, whose properties there included "the Urban Journey pizza and coffee shop and the Grid Iron tavern". From 2005 he tried to win approval for Fieldhouse Station, a $12 million retail and condominium project on the site; the plans stalled in the Plan Commission in 2007<ref name="ct-2007-01-09-p31">(2007, January 9). Fieldhouse Station on hold: developer Bob Sieger owns the Monroe–Regent corner properties including the Urban Journey pizza and coffee shop. ''The Capital Times''. p. 31. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522447403/ 522447403].</ref><ref name="ct-2007-07-10-p10">(2007, July 10). "Fieldhouse gridlock: Regent-Monroe plan still stalled." ''The Capital Times''. p. 10. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522435345/ 522435345].</ref>. By then the pizzeria was gone: the city's list of businesses whose liquor licenses were not renewed by July 1, 2007, carried "Urban Pizza (closed)"<ref name="ct-2007-07-03-p3">(2007, July 3). Businesses whose liquor licenses were not renewed by July 1, 2007, including "Urban Pizza (closed)" and Casa Bianca. ''The Capital Times''. p. 3. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522433714/ 522433714].</ref>, and the project site was described a week later as "the former Urban Pizza and Copper Grid Tavern"<ref name="ct-2007-07-10-p10" />. | |||
==Former Locations== | ==Former Locations== | ||
* 1501 Monroe St. (November 1997<ref name="wsj-2004-12-26-p21" /> to mid-2007). | * 1501 Monroe St., across from the UW Field House (November 1997<ref name="wsj-2004-12-26-p21" /><ref name="wsj-1997-12-07-p56" /> to mid-2007). The telephone number in 1997 was 250-4797<ref name="wsj-1997-12-07-p56" />. In November 2004 a new church began meeting next door and converting space "in the Urban Pizza building" into a worship and community center<ref name="ct-2004-11-30-p25">Bergin, M. (2004, November 30). "Journey of faith." ''The Capital Times''. p. 25. Newspapers.com images [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522336817/ 522336817], [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522336832/ 522336832].</ref>. | ||
==Pizza== | ==Pizza== | ||
* The galvanized chicken pizza of 1997: basil-marinated chicken, garlic-roasted red potato slices and sliced red onions in a Gorgonzola sauce, with no tomato sauce<ref name="wsj-1997-12-07-p56" />. | |||
* The Adoris: a pesto-smeared tomato slice, roasted red pepper, fresh spinach and an olive oil and garlic sauce, with no tomato sauce and a seasoned crust<ref name="dc-2003-10-15-pizza-poll" />. | * The Adoris: a pesto-smeared tomato slice, roasted red pepper, fresh spinach and an olive oil and garlic sauce, with no tomato sauce and a seasoned crust<ref name="dc-2003-10-15-pizza-poll" />. | ||
* The "Urban original crust": a buttery deep dish "that's never soggy or greasy and always generous with the toppings"; a 12-inch feeds three or four. The Maui Dreamin' (Canadian ham, pineapple, Mandarin oranges and sliced almonds) and the GreenPiece (broccoli, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, red onions and black olives) were the reviewer's favorites in 2003<ref name="ct-2003-05-01-p75" />. The Green Piece was already on the menu in December 1997, then with onions, cheese and tomato sauce<ref name="wsj-1997-12-07-p56" />. | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Latest revision as of 16:13, 24 October 2026
Urban Pizza Cafe (also Urban Pizza Co. and, in a 2007 story, Urban Journey) was a pizza and coffee shop at 1501 Monroe St., on the corner of Monroe and Regent streets across from Camp Randall Stadium, from November 1997 until 2007.
History
Urban Pizza Co. opened in November 1997, in the same week as Glass Nickel Pizza and Pizza Planet. Within a month Chris Martell of the State Journal had reviewed it as "another new contender for the best new pizza in Madison honors", paired with the new Sal's on State Street. Her bottom line: "Pizza doesn't get much better than this." The galvanized chicken pizza, a weekly special with basil-marinated chicken, garlic-roasted red potato slices and red onions in a Gorgonzola sauce on a crisp homemade crust, "deserves to become part of the regular menu"; the Green Piece was "a messy but delicious concoction" of broccoli, mushrooms, black olives, onions, cheese and tomato sauce. Pizzas were $3.95 to $5.95 in the "spryte" size and $8.75 to $12.75 for a 12-inch, handed out through a pick-up window, and the Urban Bowl ($4.95) and Greek ($3.75) salads had homemade dressings. The room had "the New York industrial loft look", at sidewalk level with lots of windows and acid-green walls; the hours were 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, to midnight Friday and Saturday and 11 to 9 on Sunday[1]. With the Glass Nickel it "helped introduce Madison to gourmet pizza", the State Journal wrote in 2004; its owner Bob Sieger had no plans to expand: "It's not a big operation … We're a neighborhood thing; we get 20 pizzas — and that's fine."[2] The city's license lists of 2000 to 2003 carried "Urban Pizza Co., Inc. dba Urban Pizza Co." with Robert J. Cuomo and then the manager Casey Gryske as agent[3][4]. When cheese prices soared in 2001 Gryske said the shop had two suppliers competing, "but we're already kind of a high-end place so we can't really raise our prices"[5]. In October 2003 "The Urban Pizza Company" won the Daily Cardinal's pizza poll outright with the Adoris, delivered in 27 minutes for $6.85 — "for sure, the prettiest pizza"[6].
The city licensed Urban Pizza Co., Inc. for liquor and beer in May 1998 with John S. Manchester as agent[7], and the October 1998 restaurant guide listed it at 250-4797, open to 10 p.m. on weekdays, 11 on Friday and Saturday and 9 on Sunday, with entrées of $10 to $15[8].
Sieger owned the building by April 2000, when he and Tom Brunner bought the Copper Grid tavern next door at 1509 Monroe St. from its owners of 35 years[9]; by 2001 the pair were "the Gridiron/Urban Pizza"[10], and on football Saturdays Urban Pizza ran a beer garden[11]. Sandra Kallio's three-star review in May 2003 praised "gourmet pizzas and salads, Sprecher soda and a good selection of bottled beers, fresh-baked cookies, tabletop games and a party room that can be reserved for free", with counter service and only six parking spaces; a cheese pizza was $8.95 and a specialty $13.49, thin crust from $6.89, and slices $2.50 at lunch and dinner[12]. That spring Robert Oldenburg applied for the beer and wine license as The Urban Pizza Company, an application the council placed on file[13][14]. An Urban Pizza employee appears in a Capital Times story of April 2004 about the Regent Street neighborhood, and in June 2004 the city council approved a change of corporate name, "Urban Pizza Cafe, LLC, formerly Urban Pizza Co., Inc., dba Urban Pizza Co., 1501 Monroe Street"[15]. The license, with Robert Sieger as agent, was renewed each May from 2005 to 2007[15][16].
The corner belonged to the Madison architect and developer Bob Sieger, whose properties there included "the Urban Journey pizza and coffee shop and the Grid Iron tavern". From 2005 he tried to win approval for Fieldhouse Station, a $12 million retail and condominium project on the site; the plans stalled in the Plan Commission in 2007[17][18]. By then the pizzeria was gone: the city's list of businesses whose liquor licenses were not renewed by July 1, 2007, carried "Urban Pizza (closed)"[19], and the project site was described a week later as "the former Urban Pizza and Copper Grid Tavern"[18].
Former Locations
- 1501 Monroe St., across from the UW Field House (November 1997[2][1] to mid-2007). The telephone number in 1997 was 250-4797[1]. In November 2004 a new church began meeting next door and converting space "in the Urban Pizza building" into a worship and community center[20].
Pizza
- The galvanized chicken pizza of 1997: basil-marinated chicken, garlic-roasted red potato slices and sliced red onions in a Gorgonzola sauce, with no tomato sauce[1].
- The Adoris: a pesto-smeared tomato slice, roasted red pepper, fresh spinach and an olive oil and garlic sauce, with no tomato sauce and a seasoned crust[6].
- The "Urban original crust": a buttery deep dish "that's never soggy or greasy and always generous with the toppings"; a 12-inch feeds three or four. The Maui Dreamin' (Canadian ham, pineapple, Mandarin oranges and sliced almonds) and the GreenPiece (broccoli, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, red onions and black olives) were the reviewer's favorites in 2003[12]. The Green Piece was already on the menu in December 1997, then with onions, cheese and tomato sauce[1].
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Becker, D. and Pizza), D. B. a. C. M. (1997, December 7). "Two pizzerias vie for best of Madison's best new eats." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 56. Newspapers.com image 401422712.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wallmeyer, A. (2004, December 26). "Pizzas with pizzazz: Gourmet pizza places are proliferating." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 21. Newspapers.com images 406304963, 406304963, 406304975.
- ↑ (2000, May 25). City of Madison license renewal applications, 2000–01 (pages 12–13). The Capital Times. p. 12. Newspapers.com images 522191464, 522191464, 522191472.
- ↑ (2002, May 21). City of Madison license renewal applications, 2002–03 (pages 4–5). The Capital Times. p. 4. Newspapers.com images 526007657, 526007657, 526007659.
- ↑ Ivey, M. (2001, September 5). "Eating up profits: Cheese prices hurt pizza places." The Capital Times. p. 1. Newspapers.com images 522189987, 522189987, 522190014.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Capecchi, L. (2003, October 15). "Pizza poll delivers." The Daily Cardinal.
- ↑ (1998, May 26). "City of Madison license applications, June 2, 1998 (Ray Fisher, city clerk; published May 25–27)." The Capital Times. p. 4–5. Newspapers.com images 521509437, 521509449.
- ↑ (1998, October 29). "Pizzerias (continued, 'Page 31')." The Capital Times. p. 114. Newspapers.com image 522544155.
- ↑ (2000, May 2). "Copper Grid sold." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 16. Newspapers.com image 407386298.
- ↑ (2001, November 15). "Food drive set for Saturday Badger game." The Capital Times. p. 15. Newspapers.com image 522228242.
- ↑ (2000, September 1). Fans' reactions to the UW Shoe Box suspensions; one interviewed 'standing in front of the Urban Pizza beer garden'. The Capital Times. p. 6. Newspapers.com image 522643806.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Kallio, S. (2003, May 1). "Urban Pizza toppings more than enough." The Capital Times. p. 75. Newspapers.com images 522527863, 522527870.
- ↑ (2003, March 4). "Alcohol License Review Committee hearing notice (April 8, 2003)." The Capital Times. p. 20. Newspapers.com image 522653179.
- ↑ (2003, May 26). "Common Council proceedings: ALRC report." The Capital Times. p. 7. Newspapers.com image 522445492.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 (2005, May 23). City of Madison license renewal list, May 2005 (continued): Casa Bianca, Pizza Pit, Pizzeria Uno, Glass Nickel, Pizza Di Roma, Urban Pizza Cafe. The Capital Times. p. 5. Newspapers.com image 525987738.
- ↑ (2007, May 28). City of Madison license renewal list, May 2007: Rocky Rococo (8 stores), Cafe Porta Alba, Casa Bianca, Pizza Pit, Urban Pizza Cafe, Pizza Di Roma, Pizza Hut, Unos, Roman Candle. The Capital Times. p. 4. Newspapers.com image 529156052.
- ↑ (2007, January 9). Fieldhouse Station on hold: developer Bob Sieger owns the Monroe–Regent corner properties including the Urban Journey pizza and coffee shop. The Capital Times. p. 31. Newspapers.com image 522447403.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 (2007, July 10). "Fieldhouse gridlock: Regent-Monroe plan still stalled." The Capital Times. p. 10. Newspapers.com image 522435345.
- ↑ (2007, July 3). Businesses whose liquor licenses were not renewed by July 1, 2007, including "Urban Pizza (closed)" and Casa Bianca. The Capital Times. p. 3. Newspapers.com image 522433714.
- ↑ Bergin, M. (2004, November 30). "Journey of faith." The Capital Times. p. 25. Newspapers.com images 522336817, 522336832.
