Gargano’s Pizzeria: Difference between revisions

From Madison Pizza Wiki
← Older edit
Add the Carlo's predecessor at 435 State St. and the 1965–66 news items
Add a former waitress's memory of the pan pizza's secret ingredient
 
Line 20: Line 20:
* Pizziola: "a Gargano's pizza built on a Gargano's garlic bread foundation" (1974)<ref name="dc-1974-03-07-p7">Gourmet, S. S. (1974, March 7). [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ANCGJARD2HNRNK9A/pages/A5JEI6EMGZABKF8E State Street Gourmet's list of favorite sandwiches.] ''The Daily Cardinal''. p. 7.</ref>.
* Pizziola: "a Gargano's pizza built on a Gargano's garlic bread foundation" (1974)<ref name="dc-1974-03-07-p7">Gourmet, S. S. (1974, March 7). [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ANCGJARD2HNRNK9A/pages/A5JEI6EMGZABKF8E State Street Gourmet's list of favorite sandwiches.] ''The Daily Cardinal''. p. 7.</ref>.
* Pizza a la Napoletana; garlic bread under a mat of mozzarella and romano; the hot Togo submarine; an Italian roast beef sandwich, "Biagio's pride, made according to his mother's recipe" (1973)<ref name="dc-1973-02-16-p8" />.
* Pizza a la Napoletana; garlic bread under a mat of mozzarella and romano; the hot Togo submarine; an Italian roast beef sandwich, "Biagio's pride, made according to his mother's recipe" (1973)<ref name="dc-1973-02-16-p8" />.
==Trivia==
* A woman who waited tables there in the mid-1970s later remembered the pan pizza as the best in the world, with a secret ingredient: anchovy oil. She also recalled Biagio Gargano's lasagna and the "margarita salad" from the vegetable bar, which his mother-in-law made<ref name="mc-2019-10-17-your-memories">(2019, October 17). [https://madison.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/restaurants/collection_46981793-22c6-50c1-bed4-f01d534c3ae9.html "Your memories: Readers share stories of restaurants from the past."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.


==Former Locations==
==Former Locations==

Latest revision as of 20:42, 28 October 2026

Gargano’s was a pizzeria at 437 State St. from September 1964 to January 1984. Biagio Gargano, the owner was the brother of Peppino and Gino, who also owned Italian restaurants in Madison.

Biagio Gargano came to Madison in 1960. By 1962 he had a pizzeria called Guiseppe's near the corner of Randall and University avenues, which he soon moved to State Street and renamed Gargano's. The State Street pizzeria had been his uncle Carlo Caputo's: in April 1964 "Carlo's Pizza Parlor" at 435 State St. was offered for sale[1][2] (see Carlo’s). In April 1965, when Biagio Gargano became a U.S. citizen, the Capital Times reported that he ran a pizza shop at 435 State St., that his wife ran Giuseppe's restaurant at 318 N. Randall Ave., and that his brother Gino had a restaurant at 535 State St.[3] He died in December 2012, aged 76[4].

Its opening advertisement ran on September 11, 1964: "Italian Foods 'At Its Best' — Now Open — Gargano's Pizzeria", with carry-out and delivery, "specializing in Pizza, American & Italian Dishes", at 437 State St., telephone 255-3200[5]. In March 1966 police used tear gas to flush burglars out of "Gargano's Pizzeria, 435 State St."[6] Biagio Gargano applied for a beer license for "435-37 State St., for a pizza restaurant" in November 1965[7] and again in 1970[8]. In 1971 it advertised "dozens of varieties of pizza", Budweiser on tap, homemade lasagne as "our specialty", seating for 75 and free campus delivery, open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.[9]; by April 1974 it opened at 11:30 a.m. for lunch[10]. The 1975 license was held by Broom & State Corporation[11].

Gargano's won the Daily Cardinal pizza contests of 1971 and 1972[12][13]. The Cardinal's "State Street Gourmet" wrote in 1973 that compared with Gargano's "every other pizza delivered was chintzy"; he ordered his pizzas "from the bottom of the list", made with imported Italian pear tomatoes, and watched Biagio make them in the kitchen[14]. Biagio Gargano then built a second dining room upstairs, "gaudily decorated", for Sicilian-style "Pizza in the Pan": a crust "a light, freshly baked bread" under a thick layer of fresh-tasting tomato sauce, which the Gourmet called "so clearly the best pizza we'd ever had in Madison"[15]. Gargano's later advertised that "In 1973 Biagio Gargano FIRST introduced Pizza in the Pan to Madison" — a year before Rocky Rococo opened — and in July 1975 added sfinciuni, "the Peter Pan Pizza", at 70¢ a slice[16]. The pan pizza finished second in the Cardinal's 1974 contest[17]. A 1973 letter to the Cardinal praised its sauce and the aluminum foil it wrapped its delivery pizzas in[18].

In 1973 it stood on State Street at the corner of North Broom Street, in a building whose signs read "Carry Out Pizza Service" and "Spaghetti & Pizza", next to Martin's Midwest Western Wear[19].

The 1980 Yellow Pages list Gargano's at 437 State St., with two numbers and a third for "Pizza in the Pan". Its menu ad offered thin, regular and thick crusts in 10-, 12- and 14-inch sizes and pan pizza in 9, 10 and 12 inches, sixteen extra ingredients, the Togo and Vesuvio sandwiches, a "Pizzaloka" of garlic bread with pizza sauce and mozzarella, and pasta dinners. It was open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.[20]

Biagio Gargano had sold the restaurant by November 1980, when he opened The Monastery on East Washington Avenue[21]. From 1977 it was run by Dollhausen Enterprises, Inc., which held its license in 1983[22][23]. In October 1983 the company opened a second restaurant, Gargano's East, at 2415 E. Washington Ave.; that month Gargano's on State Street was still hiring pizza drivers[24].

Both restaurants closed in January 1984. On March 9 the company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, listing debts of $529,388 and assets of $32,151. Its largest unsecured creditor was the landlord, Broom & State Corp., owed $244,664 in remaining lease payments and $150,000 on a 1977 purchase agreement[22][25]. The Noble Roman’s franchise opened in the building in January 1985[26]. "The Grotto and Garganos are, sadly, just State Street memories now," the Capital Times wrote that June[27]. See 437 State Street.

Pizza

  • Pizza in the Pan, Sicilian style, introduced in 1973[16].
  • Peter Pan Pizza (sfinciuni), 70¢ a slice (1975)[16].
  • Pizziola: "a Gargano's pizza built on a Gargano's garlic bread foundation" (1974)[28].
  • Pizza a la Napoletana; garlic bread under a mat of mozzarella and romano; the hot Togo submarine; an Italian roast beef sandwich, "Biagio's pride, made according to his mother's recipe" (1973)[14].

Trivia

  • A woman who waited tables there in the mid-1970s later remembered the pan pizza as the best in the world, with a secret ingredient: anchovy oil. She also recalled Biagio Gargano's lasagna and the "margarita salad" from the vegetable bar, which his mother-in-law made[29].

Former Locations

  • 437 State St., at Broom and Gilman streets (September 1964[5] to January 1984[22]).
  • 2415 E. Washington Ave., as Gargano's East (October 1983 to January 1984)[22].

External links

Notes

  1. ↑ (1964, April 4). Business opportunity: "Pizza restaurant—435 State St. ... See Mr. Caputo". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 17. Newspapers.com image 400576053.
  2. ↑ (1964, April 14). Windstorm damage, including siding torn off Carlo's Pizza Parlor, 435 State St. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 2. Newspapers.com image 400591633.
  3. ↑ (1965, April 27). Naturalization ceremony; Biagio Gargano operates a pizza shop at 435 State St., his brother Gino a restaurant at 535 State St. The Capital Times. p. 1. Newspapers.com image 519976155.
  4. ↑ Moe, D. (2013, July 5). "Doug Moe: Gino's at 50." madison.com.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 (1964, September 11). Gargano's Pizzeria "Now Open" advertisement, 437 State St. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 39. Newspapers.com image 397277939.
  6. ↑ Staff), B. D. Z. T. C. T. (1966, March 22). "Tear Gas Is Used In State St. Siege." The Capital Times. p. 1. Newspapers.com image 519699302.
  7. ↑ (1965, November 9). State Street beer and liquor license applications: Biagio Gargano (435-37 State, pizza restaurant), Carlo Caputo (320 State). Wisconsin State Journal. p. 15. Newspapers.com image 403856450.
  8. ↑ (1970, May 20). City of Madison notice of new Class B beer license applications, May 1970. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 23. Newspapers.com image 396874370.
  9. ↑ (1971, December 9). Gargano's Pizzeria advertisement, 437 State St. The Daily Cardinal. p. 6.
  10. ↑ Gourmet, S. S. (1974, April 25). State Street Gourmet on pan pizza at Pino's and Rocky Rococo. The Daily Cardinal. p. 8.
  11. ↑ (1975, May 28). City of Madison license list, May 1975. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 35.
  12. ↑ Anchovy, W. J. (1971, November 5). "Promises, promises: First annual pizza contest." The Daily Cardinal. p. 9.
  13. ↑ McCue, M. (1972, November 17). Second Annual Cardinal Pizza Delivery Competition. The Daily Cardinal. p. 15.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Gourmet, S. S. (1973, February 16). State Street Gourmet on Gargano's. The Daily Cardinal. p. 8.
  15. ↑ Gourmet, S. S. (1974, March 22). State Street Gourmet on Gargano's Pizza in the Pan. The Daily Cardinal. p. 9.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 (1975, July 25). Gargano's advertisement: Pizza in the Pan (1973) and sfinciuni, "the Peter Pan Pizza". The Daily Cardinal. p. 5.
  17. ↑ Calhoun, H. (1974, October 14). "Pizza hits the pits; Rocky wins by default." The Daily Cardinal. p. 11.
  18. ↑ (1973, January 8). "Blasts Cardinal pizza contest." The Daily Cardinal. p. 30.
  19. ↑ Garner, B. (1973). "Gargano's Pizzaria." Photograph, Wisconsin Historical Society, Unique ID W01263O (WHI 137704). Bruce Garner photographs of State Street area, Madison, Wisconsin, circa 1973.
  20. ↑ (1980). Madison Yellow Pages, 1980 edition (Wisconsin Telephone Co.), 'Pizza' classification, p. 447: listings Barnaby's Family Inn (4802 E. Washington Ave. 241-2131; 6613 Mineral Point Rd. 833-1671), Brat und Brau (1421 Regent; …. Madison telephone directory. p. 447.
  21. ↑ Campbell, G. (1981, March 1). "A Gargano scores again." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 84. Newspapers.com image 401048042.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Parkins, A. (1984, March 16). "Gargano's files for bankruptcy." The Capital Times. p. 12. Newspapers.com image 521415520.
  23. ↑ (1983, May 5). 1983 license applications: 'Dollhausen Enterprises, Inc., Ruth Dollhausen, Agent, DBA Gargano's, 437 State Street'; 'Gargano Brothers, Inc., Stella Gargano, Agent, DBA Gino's, 540 State Street'; R & R Pan Style Pizza (Rocky…. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 20. Newspapers.com image 405904686.
  24. ↑ (1983, October 19). Help-wanted: 'Pizza driver wanted. Must have own car, we pay salary & commission. Apply at: Gargano's, 437 State St.'. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 35. Newspapers.com image 404934219.
  25. ↑ (1984, March 17). "Bankruptcy petition filed by Gargano's." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 1. Newspapers.com image 402629288.
  26. ↑ Kallio, S. (1985, March 17). "Noble Roman's not distinguished." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 96. Newspapers.com image 402064727.
  27. ↑ Egerton, B. (1985, June 22). "Madison has right stuff for making — and eating! — pizza." The Capital Times. p. 14. Newspapers.com image 519961462.
  28. ↑ Gourmet, S. S. (1974, March 7). State Street Gourmet's list of favorite sandwiches. The Daily Cardinal. p. 7.
  29. ↑ (2019, October 17). "Your memories: Readers share stories of restaurants from the past." madison.com.
Retrieved from "https://madisonpizza.wiki/index.php?title=Gargano’s_Pizzeria&oldid=10498"