Gino’s
Gino's was an Italian restaurant on State St., opened on July 5, 1963, by Virginio "Gino" Gargano. It called itself "The Original since 1963" and was known for stuffed pizza[1][2].
History
Gino Gargano came from a Sicilian lemon-growing family. His brother Biagio Gargano had arrived in 1960 and by 1962 had a pizzeria, Guiseppe's, near Randall and University avenues, which became Gargano's on State Street. Gino's opened in 1963 across State Street from its later home and moved to 540 State St. in 1967; its first waitress there, Nancy Nusbaum, later became mayor of De Pere. A third brother, Giuseppe "Peppino" Gargano, opened the first Peppino's in 1974 in Gino's former living quarters upstairs; Peppino's later moved to University Avenue in Middleton and then to South Hamilton Street, and closed on December 23, 2009[1][3].
In 2010 and 2011 Gino's advertised stuffed pizzas by the number of slices — a small for two or three people was $11.95 — with delivery and a party room for 100[2][4]. In June 2013 it reopened for lunch after a remodel that added a full-service bar[5], and on July 5, 2013, Mayor Soglin declared "Gino's Restaurant Day" for its 50th anniversary; about 20 members of the Gargano family had worked there[1]. A 2020 account said it had closed in 2013; the closing itself has not been found in the newspapers.
Trivia
- Gino Gargano told a reporter he served Madison's first stuffed pizza in the 1970s[6], and said the same in 2013[1].
- Joe Brusca, who sold pizza supplies around Madison, named Gino's among his early customers[7].
Locations
- 540 State St. (1967 to about 2013).
- State Street, across from 540 (July 5, 1963, to 1967).
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Moe, D. (2013, July 5). "Doug Moe: Gino's at 50." madison.com.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 (2010, April 8). Gino's "Stuffed Pizza Special" advertisement: "The Original since 1963". The Capital Times. p. 10. Newspapers.com image 522587351.
- ↑ Martell, C. (2010, January 1). "Peppino's now closed, but the stories -- and recipes -- live on." madison.com.
- ↑ (2011, March 3). Gino's advertisement: buy one pizza, get the second free, pick-up and delivery. The Capital Times. p. 7. Newspapers.com image 522560169.
- ↑ (2013, June 20). Gino's advertisement: "Reopen for Lunch! June 17th" in the remodeled restaurant with a full bar. The Capital Times. p. 2. Newspapers.com image 521044916.
- ↑ Kalk Derby, S. (2020, January 5) "Monona's Pizza Oven and Sauce Bar closes." Wisconsin State Journal. E4.
- ↑ Martell, C. (2010, March 28). "WWII soldiers made pizza a Madison staple." madison.com.
