Supreme Pizza

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Revision as of 22:20, 23 October 2026 by Jacques (talk | contribs) (Add the 1993 mentions from the newspaper research recorded in the database)

Supreme Pizza was a pizzeria at 912 E. Johnson St. on the near east side, from 1981 to 2010. For most of that time, from 1984 until his death in 2000, it belonged to David Wilson, who made all the dough and sauce himself[1]. It was known for a thin, crisp crust cut into squares, unusual toppings, and its vegetarian choices.

History

Supreme Fresh Pizza

Supreme Pizza was hiring at 912 E. Johnson St. in April 1981[2]. That May, as "Supreme Fresh Pizza", it announced a grand opening for a second store at 2503 E. Washington Ave., "next to Kohl's", and "new! homemade fresh crusts ... the goodness of fresh baked bread!"[3] The name "Supreme Fresh Pizza" and the East Washington store are not found after 1982. Who ran the business in these years has not been established.

David Wilson, 1984–2000

The newspapers of 2000 to 2010 all say that Wilson opened Supreme Pizza in 1984[4][5]. He was a chemical engineer from New Jersey who "never did anything but make pizzas", a friend said[1]. A 1989 dining column called the restaurant "the brain-child of a transplanted New Jerseyan who noticed that vegetarians don't have a [parlor] to call home", with 25 toppings, few of them meat, and a whole-wheat crust. It was popular enough that a second store opened that year at 1637 Monroe St.[6]

Wilson was killed early on Sunday, September 24, 2000, when a car hit him as he rode his bicycle in the 3000 block of East Washington Avenue. He was 48[7]. The driver was not cited for the crash[8]. The restaurant closed; it had nine employees, but "most days Wilson worked from 9 a.m. until 2 a.m." and "it was virtually his home"[1].

After Wilson

Wilson's family sold the business in November 2000 to Mike Cerniglia, a UW student and Badger hockey player, and Corey Spader, who managed it. Spader found some of Wilson's frozen sauce and re-created the recipe from it, but had no model for the crust[9]. By late May 2001 it had closed again, "because of management problems", and was put up for sale[10].

Dave Pelow, a former cab driver who had worked at Supreme Pizza in college, bought it and reopened it in November 2001 for dining in and takeout[11]. He had read about the restaurant's troubles, Samara Kalk wrote on November 8; he worked alone with one part-time helper, had "started out with $7 in the till", and planned a grand opening a month later[12]. Under Pelow it added all-you-can-eat spaghetti[5] and stayed open until November 2010, when it was sold to Kelly Grant and Rita "Kay" Cerniglia, who reopened it as Madtown Pizza in about June 2011[13][14].

Pizza

  • "It's that cracker-crisp crust, a spicier sauce, cut in the squares", said Tom Cranley of the Roman Candle, a regular customer, in 2010. "It's a recipe we really considered, but Madisonians aren't big fans of that style of pizza, not in large numbers, let's say"[5].
  • In 1981 the pizza came "with tons of cheese & our own zesty Italian sauce"[3].
  • Toppings in 2010 included cactus[13]. The all-you-can-eat spaghetti cost $5.75, with meatballs or "soysage"[5].

Trivia

  • The coffee shop next door named a drink "The Supreme" in Wilson's memory: an espresso with chocolate and steamed milk, which he had ordered on the day he died[1].
  • Reviewing the new Pizza Extreme in 1991, Jay Rath opened with a quiz on the similar names Supreme Pizza and Pizza Extreme, and noted that both were real[15]. A few months later he wrote that Supreme was still his favorite delivered pizza: "we're suckers for home-grown talent"[16].
  • A 1993 dining guide called it "a popular downtown pizzeria" with a "wide variety of toppings on thin or thick crust"[17], and that May Jay Rath still called Supreme his all-time favourite[18].
  • A 2005 feature on the East Johnson Street shops counted "original eats at Supreme Pizza" among the 800 and 900 blocks' attractions[19].
  • The restaurant was robbed twice on September 17, 2006, at about 4 and 8 p.m., by a gunman in a bicycle helmet[20], a member of a group that committed 14 armed robberies in Madison and the Dells area that summer[21].
  • Customers paid after they ate. The window had a dream catcher, and the walls "lots of peace art"[5].

Former Locations

  • 912 E. Johnson St. (by April 1981 to November 2010).
  • 2503 E. Washington Ave., next to Kohl's (opened May 15, 1981[3]; not found after 1982).
  • 1637 Monroe St. (1989[6] to at least September 1994[22]).

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kalk, S. (2000, October 12). Owner's death leaves Supreme Pizza for sale. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 100. Newspapers.com image 407392527.
  2. ↑ (1981, April 12). Help-wanted advertisement, "Apply in person Supreme Pizza, 912 E. Johnson". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 54. Seen in search results only; the page has not been read.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 (1981, May 14). Supreme Fresh Pizza grand-opening advertisement, 2503 E. Washington Ave. and 912 E. Johnson St. The Capital Times. p. 59. Newspapers.com image 520106654.
  4. ↑ (2000, September 26). "Wilson, David Phillips." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 6. Newspapers.com image 407417983.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Kalk Derby, S. (2010, May 6). Square Meals: There's more to Supreme Pizza than oodles of noodles. The Capital Times. p. 9. Newspapers.com image 522589327.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 (1989, August 23). Leisure Time: Madison pizza places, including Supreme Pizza and its new Monroe Street store. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 102. Newspapers.com image 396853916.
  7. ↑ (2000, September 26). "Man killed." The Capital Times. p. 3. Newspapers.com image 522187740.
  8. ↑ (2000, September 27). "Man ticketed." The Capital Times. p. 4. Newspapers.com image 522188045.
  9. ↑ Kalk, S. (2000, November 23). Supreme goes on, with new owners. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 96. Newspapers.com image 406741672.
  10. ↑ (2001, June 28). Supreme sale: Supreme Pizza put up for sale. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 61. Newspapers.com image 407327780.
  11. ↑ (2001, November 30). "New owner reopens Supreme Pizza." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 30. Newspapers.com image 406691457.
  12. ↑ Kalk, S. (2001, November 8). "Lights are back on at Supreme." The Capital Times. p. 66. Newspapers.com image 522226644.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Martell, C. (2010, November 21). "Brew pub business booming." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 66. Newspapers.com image 523116552.
  14. ↑ Dean, K. (2012, February 29). "The thin crust is a must at Madtown Pizza." madison.com.
  15. ↑ Rath, J. (1991, October 26). "'Extreme' tastes familiar." The Capital Times. p. 28. Newspapers.com image 520380615.
  16. ↑ Rath, J. (1992, January 18). "Students love Gumby's." The Capital Times. p. 27. Newspapers.com image 521267260.
  17. ↑ (1993, August 18). "Good dining spots — Pizza." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 93. Newspapers.com image 406358045.
  18. ↑ Rath, J. (1993, May 1). "Falbo Bros. really delivers: Its thick-crust pizza ranks near the top." The Capital Times. p. 38. Newspapers.com image 521422908.
  19. ↑ (2005, May 14). East Johnson Street shopping feature: "original eats at Supreme Pizza". The Capital Times. p. 52. Newspapers.com image 525987047.
  20. ↑ Ziff, D. (2006, September 18). "Supreme Pizza is robbed twice." madison.com.
  21. ↑ Treleven, E. (2006, October 6). "Robbery ring busted, say police: the gang of five allegedly pulled 14 armed robberies in Madison and the Dells area." madison.com.
  22. ↑ Rath, J. (1994, September 3). "Pizza choices as varied as toppings." The Capital Times. p. 42. Newspapers.com image 521480603.
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