Falbo Bros Pizzeria

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Revision as of 21:17, 23 October 2026 by Jacques (talk | contribs) (Add the July 1992 hiring advertisement from the newspaper research recorded in the database)

Falbo Bros Pizzeria was founded in 1992 in Madison, and have since expanded to locations in Iowa and Texas. Falbo Bros is in the minority of pizzerias in Madison offering Chicago-style deep dish and stuffed pizza[1] in addition to a wide variety of specialty pizzas. They also make calzones.

History

Jason Schleip and Rob Robbins, childhood friends from Kenosha and students at the University of Wisconsin, began experimenting in early 1992 after failing to find a good late-night delivery pizza. Falbo Bros. opened on August 1, 1992, in a 550-square-foot, $500-a-month space in the 500 block of University Avenue, with used equipment and a 20-year-old oven; the name was in Robbins's family and the sauce recipe his grandmother's. Schleip bought out Robbins within a year and left business school to run the shop. The first franchise opened in Iowa City in 1997. Schleip owned the Park Street flagship until 2008; by October 2010 all eight stores in Wisconsin and Iowa were franchisee-owned, and a ninth was opening in Fort Collins, Colorado[2]. In 2014 the company counted 10 locations in Wisconsin and Iowa[3]. The Mason Lounge on South Park Street had Falbo's deliver pies to its customers by 2010[4].

Trivia

  • The first help-wanted advertisement, for "drivers & pizzamakers" at "Falbo Bros. Pizzeria, 515 University", ran on July 17, 1992, two weeks before the shop opened[5].
  • Owner Jay Schleip was among those at Camp Randall celebrating the Wisconsin Badger Football Team's win in the 1994 Rose Bowl. He had arrived in his car playing "We are the champions of the world" on the stereo, spurring the crowd into singing along[6].
  • Highlighted by the Tonight Show with Jay Leno segment "Headlines" where an ad was shown with a cartoon character saying "At Falbo's, we wash our hands after handling the sausage"[7].
  • Delivery driver pepper-sprayed along with raucous crowd during 2003 Halloween revelry[8]. The deliveryman was reportedly trying to protect his car from people trying to get into his car and take food.
  • Participated in the Black Restaurant Week Jamboree Taste along with other Black-owned restaurants to bring attention to a decline in black-owned businesses in Madison[9].
  • Falbo Bros pizza was served at Mad Dogs Sports Bar & Pizzeria, next door at 620 University Ave., in the late 1990s and early 2000s; an October 1999 advertisement offered a free slice of Falbo Bros. pizza with a Mad Mug on Thursday nights[10].
  • The October 1999 restaurant guide listed the University Avenue shop open until 2:30 a.m. Sunday to Wednesday and 4 a.m. Thursday to Saturday[11].
  • A similar pizza agreement exists between the Mason Lounge and the location on Park St[12].

Locations

  • 101 River Pl., Monona. In January 2026 "a separate owner still operates a Falbo's in Monona"[13].
  • 2411 Allen Blvd., Middleton.

Former Locations

  • 1207 N Sherman Ave. (after 2009 to 2023; Dough Boy’s Pizza opened there on October 2, 2023[14]).
  • 406 S Park St. (to 2025[13]). One of a row of storefronts owned by Ben Gottlieb of University Audio[15].
  • 515 University Ave. (1992 to 1995)
  • 622 University Ave. (1995[16] to ?). In October 2000 it was open until 2:30 a.m. Sunday to Wednesday and 4 a.m. Thursday to Saturday, with everything under $10[17]. In September 2000 four teenagers tore up the restaurant after midnight, throwing pizza at the walls; they were arrested on State Street[18].
  • 3301 Parmenter St., Middleton. (2009[19]).

External links

Notes

  1. ↑ Rath, J. (1993, May 1). "Falbo Bros. really delivers: Its thick-crust pizza ranks near the top." The Capital Times. 4D.
  2. ↑ Moe, D. (2010, October 30). "Doug Moe: Falbo's grows out of friends' need for good pizza." madison.com.
  3. ↑ Adams, B. (2014, January 31). "Local pizza also shines on Super Bowl Sunday." madison.com.
  4. ↑ (2010, April 22). Table Talk: the Mason Lounge's delivery deal with neighbouring Falbo's. The Capital Times. p. 7. Newspapers.com image 522588430.
  5. ↑ (1992, July 17). 'Drivers & pizzamakers — drivers need own car & insurance. Falbo Bros. Pizzeria, 515 University, 255-9090/256-0506' (also WSJ July 19 p77, July 20 p22, July 21 p24). The Capital Times. p. 17. Newspapers.com images 521661322, 406398279, 406399938, 406400590.
  6. ↑ Lucas, M. (1994, January 3). "Donna and Barry relish the moment." The Capital Times. 2A.
  7. ↑ Kalk, S. (1997, February 8). "Cheap Eats (Side Order)." The Capital Times. 4D.
  8. ↑ Ingersoll, B. (2003, November 5). "Pizza man says police no help with crowd." Wisconsin State Journal. A9.
  9. ↑ Kalk Derby, S. (2020, August 16). "Supporting black-owned businesses can be tasty." Wisconsin State Journal. E1.
  10. ↑ (1999, October 28). Mad Dogs Sports Bar & Pizzeria, 620 University Ave., 251-0943, 'one block from the Kohl Center', 12 TVs, more than 100 beers; coupon for a free slice of Falbo Bros. pizza with a Mad Mug on Thursday nights (also p122). The Capital Times. p. 121. Newspapers.com images 522190952, 522190961.
  11. ↑ (1999, October 28). "Rhythm Restaurant Guide 1999–2000: Pizzerias (1)." The Capital Times. p. 113. Newspapers.com image 522190911.
  12. ↑ Christians, L. (2017, June 28). "East side craft brewery to make 'big beers for everyone'." The Capital Times. 32.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Kalk Derby, S. (2026, January 16). "32 restaurants, bars and cafes that closed in the Madison area in 2025." madison.com.
  14. ↑ Kalk Derby, S. (2024, June 13). "Restaurant review: Dough Boy's pizza is remarkable, across all categories." madison.com.
  15. ↑ (2023, December 26). "South Park businesses fear that the BRT plan to eliminate street parking would destroy them." madison.com.
  16. ↑ (1995, September 1). "Classifieds." Wisconsin State Journal. C.
  17. ↑ (2000, October 26). Pizza directory listing Gumby's at S. Brearly St. The Capital Times. p. 92.
  18. ↑ Ingersoll, B. (2000, September 13). "Campus pizza place vandalized." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 3. Newspapers.com image 407342253.
  19. ↑ (2009, October 22). "77 Square Dining Guide". Wisconsin State Journal. 35.
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