Gino’s

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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 1995 the licence was held by Gargano Brothers, Inc., with Stella Gargano as agent, and in 1996 with Virginio Gargano[4][5], and the State Journal's student guide called Gino's "famous for its pizza", with the continental La Scala upstairs[6]. In 2000 and 2001 Gino's advertised "Call ahead & we'll have your Stuffed Pizza ready for pick up!" — one hour's preparation[7] — and when cheese hit $1.72 a pound in 2001 Gino Gargano shrugged: "We are losing money on the cheese … but what you gonna do?"[8] The Daily Cardinal called it "the oldest restaurant on State Street" in 2002[9], and a Badger Herald review for the 40th birthday in 2003 described the dark panelling, black ceiling and stained-glass bar, pizzas made to order in 45 minutes, a stuffed-crust slice-and-soup lunch special for $4.99 and delivery from 11 a.m.[10]

A 2005 profile of Peppino Gargano said Gino's "has fed generations of hungry students and is still going strong", and that old-timers remembered the deep-dish pizza at Gargano's, run by Biagio[11]. In 2006 Gino, "fussy with my food", was in the kitchen most nights and hosted on Saturdays in a sport coat and tie; the manager was Wasie Amiri, the first menu hung in a case by the door, and about 150 customers came a day. He also owned two Gino's Delis in the Madison area[12][13]. The 2008 State Journal history of Madison pizza marked his 45th year and told how his uncle Carlo Caputo, a grocer on the 600 block of State Street, had brought the three brothers to Madison and opened Carlo's, a pizza place on the Capitol Square, in 1955; Gino's wife Estrella said he would not change for the chains: "People come in here and request the booth where they had a first date 20 years ago"[14].

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][15]. In June 2013 it reopened for lunch after a remodel that added a full-service bar[16], 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.

Pizza

  • "Gargano was the first to serve stuffed pizza in Madison," the Capital Times wrote in 2006; it took 45 to 65 minutes to bake, so customers were told to call ahead, and a 10-inch cost $10.95 to $14.75. The thin-crust Napoli — tomatoes, anchovies, basil and mozzarella — was a big seller[12]. A student reviewer found the stuffed pizza "less greasy and more cheesy" than Chicago deep dish, with a crust like a pie shell[17].

Trivia

  • Gino Gargano told a reporter he served Madison's first stuffed pizza in the 1970s[18], and said the same in 2013[1].
  • The 1995 Yellow Pages ad, "5 blocks from the Capital", listed stuffed pizza, fettucine Alfredo and veal Romano with free delivery, open seven days until 12:30 a.m., and La Provenzale upstairs "under same ownership"[19].
  • Joe Brusca, who sold pizza supplies around Madison, named Gino's among his early customers[20].

Locations

  • 540 State St. (1967 to about 2013).
  • State Street, across from 540 (July 5, 1963, to 1967).

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Moe, D. (2013, July 5). "Doug Moe: Gino's at 50." madison.com.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ Martell, C. (2010, January 1). "Peppino's now closed, but the stories -- and recipes -- live on." madison.com.
  4. ↑ (1995, May 25). City of Madison licence list, May 1995. The Capital Times. p. 20. Newspapers.com image 521522538. Seen in search results only; the page has not been read.
  5. ↑ (1996, May 27). City of Madison licence list, May 1996. The Capital Times. p. 5. Newspapers.com image 522631770. Seen in search results only; the page has not been read.
  6. ↑ (1995, August 16). "Student dining guide 1995: Pizza." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 59. Newspapers.com images 404412582, 522634426.
  7. ↑ (2000, April 6). Gino's advertisement: call ahead for stuffed pizza, 540 State St. The Capital Times. p. 61. Newspapers.com image 522236673.
  8. ↑ Ivey, M. (2001, September 5). "Eating up profits: Cheese prices hurt pizza places." The Capital Times. p. 1. Newspapers.com images 522189987, 522189987, 522190014.
  9. ↑ Jones, J. (2002, June 6). "State Street eateries: so many choices, and something for everyone." The Daily Cardinal.
  10. ↑ Roberts, a. (2003, November 17). "Gino's: A hidden treasure of pizza and pasta." The Badger Herald.
  11. ↑ Evans, G. (2005, November 24). "Peppino won't boast, but he certainly could." madison.com.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Evans, G. (2006, April 27). "Gino's qualifies as classic with food, ambience." madison.com.
  13. ↑ Thompson, E. (2006, December 16). "Gino's, a warm Italian eatery." madison.com.
  14. ↑ Wegner, A. N. (2008, May 28). "Through thick and thin: Madison's pizzerias have come a long way from their humble start on Spaghetti Corner." madison.com.
  15. ↑ (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.
  16. ↑ (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.
  17. ↑ Barden, L. (2006, September 27). "Pizza, service keep Gino's around town." The Daily Cardinal.
  18. ↑ Kalk Derby, S. (2020, January 5) "Monona's Pizza Oven and Sauce Bar closes." Wisconsin State Journal. E4.
  19. ↑ (1995). Ameritech PagesPlus Yellow Pages, Madison, 1995 edition, 'Pizza' classification, p. 640: display ads — Gino's, 540 State St. ('5 blocks from the Capital'; fettucine Alfredo, stuffed pizza, veal Romano, bar; free delivery …. Madison telephone directory. p. 640.
  20. ↑ Martell, C. (2010, March 28). "WWII soldiers made pizza a Madison staple." madison.com.
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