Shakey’s Pizza Parlor

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Revision as of 03:14, 25 October 2026 by Jacques (talk | contribs) (Add the 1982 license and the 1983 live music)

Shakey's Pizza Parlor was a national pizza chain with a long-running Madison parlor at 3579 E. Washington Ave., and in 1993 a second one at 714 Gammon Rd. on the west side[1], on the corner of East Washington Avenue and Stoughton Road[2].

History

The East Side Shakey's ran for more than thirty years at the corner building — "For 30-plus years, this space was a Shakey's Pizza, then a lackluster China Buffet," a 2016 review recalled[3]. China Buffet held the building from 1999 to 2015; OM Indian Fusion Cuisine remodeled it extensively and ran there from June 2016 to March 2019[2]. When OM closed, the State Journal noted the location was "most famously home to Shakey's Pizza Parlor"[2].

When the parlor opened has not yet been found in the papers; thirty-plus years before 1999 points to the late 1960s.

The 1980 Yellow Pages ad — "World's greatest pizza" — gave the East Side address as 3553 E. Washington Ave., "intersection Hy. 51 and 151", and a second, "newly remodeled" parlor at 6640 University Ave. in Middleton, listed as "Shakey's Pizza Parlor & Ye Public House". It offered the original thin crust or a new thick crust with the "famous secret sauce", introduced "The Pizzarito" for "the Mexican food lovers", and added chicken, hot subs and a salad bar; either parlor was "only 10 minutes from downtown"[4].

In 1982 S C O, Inc., with Howard Skillrud as agent, applied to add liquor at the East Side parlor; the City Council granted the license on June 1[5][6]. In 1983 both parlors had live music on weekends — a ragtime piano and banjo sing-along at Shakey's East, and "Base, Fiddle and Banjo" at Shakey's West — and weekday lunches of two slices for one[7][8][9].

In the 1980s the State Journal's dining guides listed the two parlors at 3579 E. Washington Ave. (249-7319) and 6640 University Ave., Middleton. In 1984 Shakey's added a "home style" pan pizza "to augment their original popular thin crust pizza — best of both worlds", and the Middleton store delivered[10]; in 1985 the menu was "pizza, chicken, subs and salad bar" with lunch delivery[11]. Kaye Schultz's "Cheese-off" for the Capital Times in June 1985 found Shakey's "among the few pizza restaurants with a 'family' atmosphere rather than a student-dominated trade"; it offered shrimp and pineapple toppings, a 15-inch "family size", and honored competitors' coupons[12]. The 1986 license was held by S C O, Inc., with Richard A. Skillrud as agent[13].

A third store, at 714 S. Gammon Rd. across from Woodman's, was announced in May 1988[14]. Muriel LaRose reviewed it that November ("Shakey's: good old pizza, great new buffet"): an all-you-can-eat buffet at $4.99, $3.99 at lunch, with children charged 40 cents per year of age[15].

Former Locations

  • 3579 E. Washington Ave. (about the late 1960s to the 1990s; listed in a dining guide in August 1993[1]; in 1995 advertising free "hotel express delivery" to 13 East Side motels, "Shakey's Pizza Parlor Room Service", live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights and a game room, at 249-7319[16]; licensed that May to SCO, Inc., with John F. Skillrud as agent[17]; China Buffet from 1999).
  • 714 S. Gammon Rd. (1988[14][15]; listed in the same August 1993 guide[1]; by May 1996 the address was licensed to Godfather’s Pizza[18]).
  • 6640 University Ave., Middleton (1980, "newly remodeled")[4].

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 (1993, August 18). "Good dining spots — Pizza." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 93. Newspapers.com image 406358045.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kalk Derby, S. (2019, March 17). "OM Indian Fusion closes on East Washington Avenue." madison.com.
  3. ↑ (2016, August 3). OM India review: "For 30-plus years, this space was a Shakey's Pizza, then a lackluster China Buffet". The Capital Times. p. 28. Newspapers.com image 521039670.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 (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.
  5. ↑ (1982, April 29). "Legal notice: applications for the sale of beer and/or liquor (City of Madison, 1982–83)." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 34. Newspapers.com image 404494837.
  6. ↑ (1982, June 2). City Council liquor-license decisions: new licenses granted to Shakey's Pizza Parlor, 3579 E. Washington Ave., and Showbiz Pizza Place, 434 Grand Canyon Dr. — 'a pizza parlor on nearby Grand Canyon Drive' approved although m…. The Capital Times. p. 31. Newspapers.com image 520967283.
  7. ↑ (1983, April 15). Weekend entertainment listings: 'Shakey's Pizza Parlor, 3579 E. Washington Ave. — Ragtime piano and banjo sing-along with the Carl Steele Duo, 6–10 tonight and Saturday' (the listing ran most Fridays in 1983). Wisconsin State Journal. p. 22. Newspapers.com image 405722469.
  8. ↑ (1983, November 27). Shakey's Pizza Parlor ad, 'World's greatest pizza': 'Base, Fiddle and Banjo — Shakey's West, 6640 University Ave.; Banjo & Piano — Shakey's East, 3579 E. Washington Ave.'. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 93. Newspapers.com image 405164736.
  9. ↑ (1983, August 22). Coupon page: 'Shakey's Lunch Specials — 2/1 Slices (Good Monday–Friday 11:30–1:00)', offer expires 12/31/83. The Capital Times. p. 74. Newspapers.com image 520357772.
  10. ↑ (1984, October 7). "Madison Area Dining Guide, Fall 1984." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 267. Newspapers.com image 402306110.
  11. ↑ (1985, October 6). "Madison Area Dining Guide, Fall 1985." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 140. Newspapers.com image 401397509.
  12. ↑ (1985, June 22). "Mama Mia! Madison's pizza craving is monstrous / A tale of two pizzas — upscale and other." The Capital Times. p. 15. Newspapers.com image 519961465.
  13. ↑ (1986, May 1). "Legal notice: applications for the sale of beer and/or liquor (City of Madison, 1986–87)." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 30. Newspapers.com images 402295753, 402295768.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 (1988, May 29). Shakey's ad: all-you-can-eat luncheon buffet from June 6 at the Middleton Shakey's only — 'Watch for the new Gammon Rd. store'. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 88. Newspapers.com image 401513738.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 LaRose, M. (1988, November 19). "Shakey's: good old pizza, great new buffet." The Capital Times. p. 36. Newspapers.com image 519958191.
  16. ↑ (1995). Ameritech PagesPlus Yellow Pages, Madison, 1995 edition, 'Pizza' classification, p. 639: Rocky Rococo display ad — 'Pan Style Pizza or Classic Thin', Wisconsin real cheese, city-wide delivery (limited area), pasta, lasagn…. Madison telephone directory. p. 639.
  17. ↑ (1995, May 25). City of Madison license list, May 1995. The Capital Times. p. 20. Newspapers.com image 521522538. Seen in search results only; the page has not been read.
  18. ↑ (1996, May 27). City of Madison license list, May 1996. The Capital Times. p. 5. Newspapers.com image 522631770. Seen in search results only; the page has not been read.
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