Domino’s Pizza

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Revision as of 20:56, 30 September 2026 by Jacques (talk | contribs) (Add the history of Domino's in Madison (arrival 1983, departure 1994, return 1998) from the newspaper research; correct the 1986 "No. 3" citation, which is a Capital Times story; earlier text kept)

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. Domino's is gone from Madison[2]. (A 1996 story puts the closing in November 1995[7].)
  • 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[8].
  • 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[9] and still hiring there in February 1999[10].
  • August 1999: Domino's, which "once left Madison", is back with two outlets[11].

Trivia

  • Noted for being a Pizza chain using imitation cheese in the 1970s, though it’s unlikely this persisted for a very long period[12].
  • Delivery driver's car was the target of perpetrators throwing a heavy iron grate[13].
  • Robbed in 1986[14], 1987[15], 1991[16], 1992[17].
  • 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[18].
  • Madison residents Jerry and Theresa Dolphin sued Domino's over the 30 minute delivery guarantee causing dangerous driving[19][20].
  • 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 [21].
  • The Noid participated in the Holiday Parade in 1989[22].
  • Domino's founder considers an employee stock ownership plan[23].
  • 525 University Ave. store was in the former location of the American Ice Cream Company[24].
  • 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[25].
  • 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[26].

Locations

  • 2810 E Washington Ave.
  • 409 W Gorham St.
  • 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. ↑ Hawkins, L. (1996, July 30). "Little Caesar's closes." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 16. Newspapers.com image 398441433.
  8. ↑ Kalk, S. (1997, February 8). "Papa John's finds niche." The Capital Times. p. 40. Newspapers.com image 519930305.
  9. ↑ (1998, October 29). "Pizzerias." The Capital Times. p. 113. Newspapers.com image 522544146.
  10. ↑ (1999, February 17). Help-wanted advertisement, Domino's Pizza, 703 S. Gammon Rd. The Capital Times. p. 24. Newspapers.com image 522565685.
  11. ↑ Richgels, J. (1999, August 6). "Pizza Pit owner: We'll keep rolling." The Capital Times. p. 2. Newspapers.com image 522655647.
  12. ↑ Chester, G. (1977, July 19). "'Golana' Threatens Cheese Industry". Wisconsin State Journal.
  13. ↑ (1985, Jan 18). "Iron grate thrown at pizza man's car". The Capital Times. p20.
  14. ↑ (1986, May 21). "Gunman robs east-side eatery". The Capital Times.
  15. ↑ (1987, November 10). "Monona man charged in restaurant robbery". The Capital Times. p24.
  16. ↑ (1991, January 5). "News In Brief". Wisconsin State Journal. p2D.
  17. ↑ (1992, November 19). "University Avenue pizza store robbed." The Capital Times.
  18. ↑ (1989, June 5) "Money: Changes". Wisconsin State Journal. p6B.
  19. ↑ (1989, June 22). "Promise. of Domino's Pizza cooks up lawsuit claims." The Capital Times. p35.
  20. ↑ Brickson, B. (1989, June 22). "Pell-mell pizza". Wisconsin State Journal.
  21. ↑ Nepper, M. (1989, August 30). "Party puts on primo pizza pizazz". Wisconsin State Journal.
  22. ↑ (1989, November 11). "It's Holiday Parade Time". The Capital Times. p35.
  23. ↑ (1989, December 9). "Domino's Pizza to study worker stock ownership plan." Wisconsin State Journal.
  24. ↑ (1991, December 20). "Death notices (Arnold E. Baumann)". Wisconsin State Journal. p11C.
  25. ↑ (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.
  26. ↑ (1997, August 20). Dining guide: "Domino's, Papa John's, Pizza Pit, Pizza Hut, and Rocky Rococo's all have several locations". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 103. Newspapers.com image 401951861.
  27. ↑ (1983, September 19). "Classifieds". Wisconsin State Journal. p28.
  28. ↑ (1984, May 9). "Classifieds". Wisconsin State Journal. p35.
  29. ↑ (1985, January 29). "Classifieds". Wisconsin State Journal. p29.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 (1985, May 14). "Classifieds". The Capital Times. p22.
  31. ↑ (1986, February 4). "Classifieds". Wisconsin State Journal. p25.
  32. ↑ (1986, August 21). "Classifieds". Wisconsin State Journal. p33.
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