Domino’s Pizza

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Domino's Pizza is a national pizza chain, originally from Michigan. It arrived in Madison perhaps in the early/mid 1980s. Its first Madison store was hiring in September 1983 at 525 University Ave.[1] The chain left Madison in 1994 and came back in 1998[2][3].

History

  • September 1983: the first store, 525 University Ave., is hiring[1]. Six more followed by 1986.
  • August 1986: Domino's has seven Madison outlets and is losing about $35,000 a month here. It is third in the market with about 8 percent, behind Pizza Pit (10 outlets, about 28 percent) and Rocky Rococo (10 outlets, 18–19 percent). Founder Tom Monaghan comes to Madison for a pep rally[4].
  • Early 1992: the company takes its Madison stores back from the franchisees. It had had five locations, on the east and west sides and in Middleton, and three franchisees in nine years[5].
  • Late 1992: four stores close[5].
  • January 1993: the last store, 2631 University Ave., is franchised to a corporate employee[5][6].
  • November 1994: the 2631 University Ave. store has closed and its phone is disconnected. (The 1995 Yellow Pages, compiled earlier, still listed it at 233-0099[7].) Domino's is gone from Madison[2]. (A 1996 story puts the closing in November 1995[8].)
  • February 1997: "Just two years ago national giants Little Caesar's and Domino's had nearly 20 Madison and area locations between them", wrote Samara Kalk; now neither had a store here, apart from a Little Caesar's pizza station in a Kmart[9].
  • April 1998: Domino's is "now opening on the SW side of Madison" at 703 S. Gammon Rd., next door to Hollywood Video[3]. It is listed there in the October 1998 dining directory[10] and still hiring there in February 1999[11].
  • August 1999: Domino's, which "once left Madison", is back with two outlets[12].
  • May 29, 2000: workers leaving the 703 S. Gammon Rd. store at 2:15 a.m. are robbed by a man with a handgun[13].
  • September 2000: "Domino's Pizza is hiring drivers. Earn $12–15/hr … Call 444-9078" begins running in the classifieds[14].
  • November 20, 2000: a Fitchburg store at 3050 Cahill Main is robbed, one of 15 holdups in three weeks[15].
  • December 2006: the downtown store at 409 W. Gorham St., under manager Jeff Gresley, stays open until 3 a.m. on bar nights and sends out sign-wavers for its $4.99 Monday deal[16].
  • September 26, 2009: the Gorham Street store is robbed by a man passing a note[17].

Trivia

  • Noted for being a Pizza chain using imitation cheese in the 1970s, though it’s unlikely this persisted for a very long period[18].
  • Delivery driver's car was the target of perpetrators throwing a heavy iron grate[19].
  • Robbed in 1986[20], 1987[21], 1991[22], 1992[23].
  • Was #1 pizza chain world-wide in 1986, but only #3 in Madison at the time[4].
  • Pizza Pit founder Terry Voice started in the industry as a driver for Domino's[4].
  • Manager Frank Hansen, of the West Campus location (2631 University Ave), won a Ford Festiva for increasing sales nearly 100% over a six month period[24].
  • Madison residents Jerry and Theresa Dolphin sued Domino's over the 30 minute delivery guarantee causing dangerous driving[25][26].
  • Was among nine pizza parlors participating in the "College Pizza Challenge" at the private dormitory The Langdon at the beginning of Fall semester in 1989 [27].
  • The Noid participated in the Holiday Parade in 1989[28].
  • Domino's founder considers an employee stock ownership plan[29].
  • 525 University Ave. store was in the former location of the American Ice Cream Company[30].
  • 4 of the 5 corporate-owned Domino's close in late 1992 or early 1993. The surviving store is sold to franchisee Bob Roque, who also got rights to other Madison stores[6].
  • In January 1993 a tax warrant named Judyan Pizza Inc., "operating as Dominos Pizza", at 5506 Williamsburg Way[31].
  • A 1997 dining guide still said "Domino's, Papa John's, Pizza Pit, Pizza Hut, and Rocky Rococo's all have several locations", although Domino's had none in Madison that year[32].

Locations

  • 2810 E Washington Ave.
  • 409 W Gorham St. (by December 2006[16])
  • 737 S Gammon Rd.
  • 6915 University Ave.
  • 4680 Cottage Grove Rd.

Former Locations

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 (1983, September 19). Classified advertisement, Domino's Pizza, 525 University Ave. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 28. Cited on an earlier version of this wiki; not re-read.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 (1994, November 18). Domino's at 2631 University Ave. has closed; phone disconnected. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 23. Newspapers.com image 406431558.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 (1998, April 29). Help-wanted advertisement: Domino's Pizza "now opening on the SW side of Madison", 703 S. Gammon Rd. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 26. Newspapers.com image 404524068.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Gaskill, W. (1986, August 6). "Domino's exec says No. 3 doesn't cut it." The Capital Times. p. 10. Newspapers.com image 521443245.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 (1993, January 14). "Last Domino's gets new owner." The Capital Times. p. 31. Newspapers.com image 521273773.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Gribble, R. A. (1993, January 15). "Restaurants undergoing changes." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 7D. Newspapers.com image 406373730. Cited on an earlier version of this wiki; not re-read.
  7. ↑ (1995). Ameritech PagesPlus Yellow Pages, Madison, 1995 edition, 'Pizza' classification, p. 636: alphabetical listings Alley Oops (13 Atlas Ct.), Angelo's Pizzaria (5801 Monona Dr.), Buck's Pizza ('Pizza Is Our Only Product Since…. Madison telephone directory. p. 636.
  8. ↑ Hawkins, L. (1996, July 30). "Little Caesar's closes." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 16. Newspapers.com image 398441433.
  9. ↑ Kalk, S. (1997, February 8). "Papa John's finds niche." The Capital Times. p. 40. Newspapers.com image 519930305.
  10. ↑ (1998, October 29). "Pizzerias." The Capital Times. p. 113. Newspapers.com image 522544146.
  11. ↑ (1999, February 17). Help-wanted advertisement, Domino's Pizza, 703 S. Gammon Rd. The Capital Times. p. 24. Newspapers.com image 522565685.
  12. ↑ Richgels, J. (1999, August 6). "Pizza Pit owner: We'll keep rolling." The Capital Times. p. 2. Newspapers.com image 522655647.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 (2000, May 30). "Pizza store robbed at closing time." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 2. Newspapers.com image 407433329.
  14. ↑ (2000, September 11). Help-wanted advertisements: Pizza Extreme, 605 E. Washington Ave.; Domino's drivers, 444-9078. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 7. Newspapers.com image 407340433.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 (2000, December 13). "String of robberies: 15 holdups since Nov. 18." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 1. Newspapers.com image 407005374.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Abing, C. (2006, December 4). "Area pizzerias vie for a slice of student appetites." The Daily Cardinal.
  17. ↑ Novak, B. (2009, September 28). "Pizza joint held up downtown." madison.com.
  18. ↑ Chester, G. (1977, July 19). "'Golana' Threatens Cheese Industry". Wisconsin State Journal.
  19. ↑ (1985, Jan 18). "Iron grate thrown at pizza man's car". The Capital Times. p20.
  20. ↑ (1986, May 21). "Gunman robs east-side eatery". The Capital Times.
  21. ↑ (1987, November 10). "Monona man charged in restaurant robbery". The Capital Times. p24.
  22. ↑ (1991, January 5). "News In Brief". Wisconsin State Journal. p2D.
  23. ↑ (1992, November 19). "University Avenue pizza store robbed." The Capital Times.
  24. ↑ (1989, June 5) "Money: Changes". Wisconsin State Journal. p6B.
  25. ↑ (1989, June 22). "Promise. of Domino's Pizza cooks up lawsuit claims." The Capital Times. p35.
  26. ↑ Brickson, B. (1989, June 22). "Pell-mell pizza". Wisconsin State Journal.
  27. ↑ Nepper, M. (1989, August 30). "Party puts on primo pizza pizazz". Wisconsin State Journal.
  28. ↑ (1989, November 11). "It's Holiday Parade Time". The Capital Times. p35.
  29. ↑ (1989, December 9). "Domino's Pizza to study worker stock ownership plan." Wisconsin State Journal.
  30. ↑ (1991, December 20). "Death notices (Arnold E. Baumann)". Wisconsin State Journal. p11C.
  31. ↑ (1993, January 21). Delinquent-tax warrant against Judyan Pizza Inc., operating as Dominos Pizza, 5506 Williamsburg Way. The Capital Times. p. 4. Newspapers.com image 521274365.
  32. ↑ (1997, August 20). "Answer Book restaurant guide: Pizza." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 103. Newspapers.com image 401951861.
  33. ↑ (1983, September 19). "Classifieds". Wisconsin State Journal. p28.
  34. ↑ (1984, May 9). "Classifieds". Wisconsin State Journal. p35.
  35. ↑ (1985, January 29). "Classifieds". Wisconsin State Journal. p29.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 (1985, May 14). "Classifieds". The Capital Times. p22.
  37. ↑ (1986, February 4). "Classifieds". Wisconsin State Journal. p25.
  38. ↑ (1986, August 21). "Classifieds". Wisconsin State Journal. p33.
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