Shakey’s Pizza Parlor

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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].

The East Side parlor was announced on May 1, 1964 ("it's coming ... 3553 E. Washington Ave., Intersection with Hwy. 51 & 151"), was open by May 18, and held its grand opening on May 22, 1964[4][5][6]. The full-page opening ad promised "an authentic English Pub atmosphere with separate room in identical decor for teenagers", heavy oak benches, light or black Bavarian beer on draft, ragtime banjo and piano Wednesday to Sunday, and a Pizza Supreme "made with 7 kinds of cheeses" baked "in the 750° fire-brick ovens in Shakey's spotless, glass-lined kitchen". "Ye Olde Menu" offered twenty pizzas in small, large and giant sizes, $1.15 to $3.50, among them Smoked Oyster, Louisiana Shrimp, Portuguese Linguica, Idiot's Delight and the Portland Supreme[6].

A second parlor, "at the Bend in Middleton" at 6640 University Ave., was advertised as Shakey's "new West Side location" in April 1966[7]. In 1970 the two advertised "Every night is Good Time night", with sing-along music Wednesday to Sunday and "21 varieties"[8], and the West parlor showed family films — Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, Our Gang — on Monday to Thursday evenings[9]. The 1975 city license list has SCO, Inc. (Shakey's Pizza Parlor), with Howard Skillrud as agent, at 3553 E. Washington Ave.[10]

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"[11].

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[12][13]. 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[14][15][16].

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[17]; in 1985 the menu was "pizza, chicken, subs and salad bar" with lunch delivery[18]. 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[19]. The 1986 license was held by S C O, Inc., with Richard A. Skillrud as agent[20].

A third store, at 714 S. Gammon Rd. across from Woodman's, was announced in May 1988[21]. 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[22].

Former Locations

  • 3579 E. Washington Ave., given as 3553 E. Washington Ave. in 1964–80 (May 1964[6] 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[23]; licensed that May to SCO, Inc., with John F. Skillrud as agent[24]; China Buffet from 1999).
  • 714 S. Gammon Rd. (1988[21][22]; listed in the same August 1993 guide[1]; by May 1996 the address was licensed to Godfather’s Pizza[25]).
  • 6640 University Ave., Middleton (April 1966[7]; "newly remodeled" in 1980[11]).

Pizza

  • Pizza Supreme, "made with 7 kinds of cheeses" (1964)[6].

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. ↑ (1964, May 1). Shakey's advertisement: "it's coming ... Shakey's Pizza Parlor and Ye Public House, 3553 E. Washington Ave.". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 34. Newspapers.com image 401047962.
  5. ↑ (1964, May 18). Shakey's "Now Open" advertisement with menu. The Capital Times. p. 32. Newspapers.com image 520819163.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 (1964, May 22). Shakey's Pizza Parlor and Ye Public House grand-opening advertisement, 3553 E. Washington Ave. The Capital Times. p. 36. Newspapers.com image 520821361.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 (1966, April 26). Shakey's advertisement: "Did you know Shakey's have a new West Side location?". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 9. Newspapers.com image 402312203.
  8. ↑ (1970, February 14). Shakey's Pizza Parlors advertisement listing East (3553 E. Washington Ave.) and West (6640 University Ave.). Wisconsin State Journal. p. 25. Newspapers.com image 396539861.
  9. ↑ (1970, January 11). Shakey's Pizza Parlor weekly family movie guide (West store only). Wisconsin State Journal. p. 68. Newspapers.com image 396497934.
  10. ↑ (1975, May 28). City of Madison license list, May 1975. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 35.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 (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.
  12. ↑ (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.
  13. ↑ (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.
  14. ↑ (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.
  15. ↑ (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.
  16. ↑ (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.
  17. ↑ (1984, October 7). "Madison Area Dining Guide, Fall 1984." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 267. Newspapers.com image 402306110.
  18. ↑ (1985, October 6). "Madison Area Dining Guide, Fall 1985." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 140. Newspapers.com image 401397509.
  19. ↑ (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.
  20. ↑ (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.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 (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.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 LaRose, M. (1988, November 19). "Shakey's: good old pizza, great new buffet." The Capital Times. p. 36. Newspapers.com image 519958191.
  23. ↑ (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.
  24. ↑ (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.
  25. ↑ (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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