1980s (decade)

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Revision as of 04:36, 24 October 2026 by Jacques (talk | contribs) (Add the 1980 Yellow Pages 'Pizza' pages (Andy's copy))

The 1980s pizza scene in Madison saw large growth in Rocky's and Pizza Pit locations. Domino's, which had become a major nationwide chain, still hadn't really entered Madison's market. (The newspapers show otherwise: Domino's opened its first Madison store in 1983 and had seven by 1986, though it was only third in the market[1]. Little Caesar's arrived in 1982[2].)

1980
  • May: Rocky Rococo is licensed at three addresses, including 4002 E. Washington Ave.[3]
  • The 1980 Yellow Pages "Pizza" pages show the city's pizza trade before the chains of the 1980s arrived[4][5][6][7]: Rocky Rococo had five stores, Pizza Pit seven (its Emil Street store trading as Diablos Inn), Pizza Hut four restaurants (811 Fern Dr. at University and Midvale, 4709 Verona Rd., 2405 S. Park St., 3059 E. Washington Ave.), The Pizza Oven two and Shakey's two (3553 E. Washington Ave. and 6640 University Ave., Middleton).
  • The same pages list the independents: Gargano's at 437 State St., Gino's with Chicago stuffed pizza at 540 State St., O'Reggano's Lower Crust selling pizza by the slice at 543 State St., Paisan's at 80 University Square, Iven Pizza at 1302 Regent St., Buck's ("19 years") at 219 Cottage Grove Rd., Midvale Plaza Pizza at 523 S. Midvale Blvd., Barnaby's Family Inn at 4802 E. Washington Ave. and 6613 Mineral Point Rd., Pizza Inn at 6207 Monona Dr. and Villa Piazza at 2039 Allen Blvd., Middleton.
1981
1982
  • A Sun Prairie family opens the first Madison Little Caesar's franchise, on Cottage Grove Road[2].
  • February: Pizza Pit advertises for staff for its new store in East Towne Mall[10].
  • April: Rocky Rococo has 11 restaurants, six of them in Madison, and is about to start franchising[11].
1983
  • April: Little Caesar's has two stores, 4664 Cottage Grove Rd. and one in Sun Prairie[12].
  • September: the first Madison Domino's is hiring at 525 University Ave.[13]
  • April: Pizza Pit forms a company to sell franchises. It has nine stores in the Madison area[14].
  • May: Rocky Rococo applies for a license at West Towne Mall[15].
  • June: Pizza Pit opens two stores in Green Bay[16].
1984
1985
  • February: Rocky Rococo has 43 restaurants in four states[20].
1986
  • August: Domino's has seven Madison outlets but only 8 percent of the market, behind Pizza Pit and Rocky Rococo[1].
  • Public Storage Inc. takes a stake in Rocky Rococo[21].
  • George Backus, founder of Buck’s Pizza, dies[22].
1987
  • February: a new Pizza Pit at 4527 Cottage Grove Rd.[23]
  • May: Edwardo's applies for a license at 6601 Mineral Point Rd.[24]
1988
1989
  • June: Pizza Pit is in a new headquarters building at 4253 Argosy Ct.[26]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gaskill, W. (1986, August 6). "Domino's exec says No. 3 doesn't cut it." The Capital Times. p. 10. Newspapers.com image 521443245.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ivey, M. (1996, September 12). "Franchisee sues Little Caesar's." The Capital Times. p. 3. Newspapers.com image 522283167.
  3. ↑ (1980, May 7). City of Madison license list, May 1980. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 37.
  4. ↑ (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.
  5. ↑ (1980). Madison Yellow Pages, 1980 edition (Wisconsin Telephone Co.), 'Pizza' classification, p. 448: listings Pizza Hut (811 Fern Dr. 238-7361; 4709 Verona Rd. 271-7151; 3059 E. Washington Ave. 249-6439; 2405 S. Park 257-8621) a…. Madison telephone directory. p. 448.
  6. ↑ (1980). Madison Yellow Pages, 1980 edition (Wisconsin Telephone Co.), 'Pizza' classification, p. 449: listings Pizza Oven (6016 Monona Dr. 222-8722; 1018 N. Sherman Ave. 244-0434), Pizza Pit (616 University Ave. 257-5825; Far Eas…. Madison telephone directory. p. 449.
  7. ↑ (1980). Madison Yellow Pages, 1980 edition (Wisconsin Telephone Co.), 'Pizza' classification, p. 450: listings Rocky Rococo Pan Style Pizza and Pasta (411 W. Gilman 256-0600, 1618 W. Beltline Hwy. 251-0304, 651 State, 694 S. Whit…. Madison telephone directory. p. 450.
  8. ↑ (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.
  9. ↑ (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.
  10. ↑ (1982, February 27). Help-wanted advertisements for the new Pizza Pit in East Towne Mall. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 25–26. Seen in search results only; the page has not been read.
  11. ↑ Martin, C. (1982, April 4). "Through pizza's thick and thin, Rocky Rococo Corp. pans out." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 32. Newspapers.com image 404415972.
  12. ↑ (1983, April 13). Little Caesars coupon advertisement, two locations. The Capital Times. p. 51. Newspapers.com image 521381493.
  13. ↑ (1983, September 19). Classified advertisement, Domino's Pizza, 525 University Ave. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 28. Cited on an earlier version of this wiki; not re-read.
  14. ↑ (1983, April 1). Market Memo: Pizza Pit Ltd. forms Pizza Pit Investment Enterprises. The Capital Times. p. 10. Newspapers.com image 521375378.
  15. ↑ (1983, May 6). City of Madison license list, May 1983. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 32.
  16. ↑ (1983, June 12). Business people: managers named for two new Pizza Pit stores in Green Bay. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 61. Newspapers.com image 404645680.
  17. ↑ (2000, September 26). "Wilson, David Phillips." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 6. Newspapers.com image 407417983.
  18. ↑ (1984, July 30). People in business: Pizza Pit staff changes and new store at 2803 University Avenue. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 4. Newspapers.com image 402540364.
  19. ↑ (1984, August 28). Pizzeria Uno coming to Madison in November at 222 W. Gorham St. The Capital Times. p. 6. Newspapers.com image 520341374.
  20. ↑ Simms, P. (1985, February 3). "Where food is fast, so is the growth." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 117. Newspapers.com image 402044078.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Riddle, J. (1988, January 14). Founders sell their stake in Rocky Rococo (front page). Wisconsin State Journal. p. 1. Newspapers.com image 400698733.
  22. ↑ Moe, D. (2010, June 8). "Doug Moe: Ald. Sanborn buys Buck's Pizza, but won't mess with success." madison.com.
  23. ↑ (1987, February 25). Business people: manager named for new Pizza Pit at 4527 Cottage Grove Road. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 26. Newspapers.com image 405050514.
  24. ↑ (1987, May 12). License application, Edwardo's, 6601 Mineral Point Rd. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 22. Newspapers.com image 402453528.
  25. ↑ (1988, February 7). Help-wanted advertisements, Mama D's Pizza (1018 N. Sherman Ave.) and The Pizza Oven (6016 Monona Dr.). Wisconsin State Journal. p. 42. Newspapers.com image 401499623.
  26. ↑ (1989, June 4). Help-wanted advertisement, Pizza Pit corporate headquarters, 4253 Argosy Court. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 33. Newspapers.com image 404579230.
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