Buck’s Pizza

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Buck’s Pizza
Website Logo
Type
Counter service, takeout, delivery
Styles
Milwaukee-style thin crust
Opened1960
Location
219 Cottage Grove Rd.
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Buck’s Pizza has been in operation since 1960, making it one of the oldest pizza places in Madison. While many restaurants and pizzerias will adopt current menu trends, Buck's sticks to tradition and has a very simple, perhaps old-fashioned menu.

History

George "Buck" Backus opened Buck's on Cottage Grove Road in 1960, after coming to Madison from Racine, where he had managed the Meadowbrook Country Club. He later added a West Side store in Midvale Plaza. Backus died in 1986[1].

Bill Buchholz bought the two restaurants in 1991. "Many people assume the Buck's name came from Buchholz", a columnist noted[1].

In 2006 the West Side store moved from Midvale Plaza to 5502 University Ave.[2]

On June 2, 2010, the year Buck's turned 50, Buchholz sold both stores to Jed Sanborn, an accountant who was then a member of the Madison city council. As part of the sale Sanborn agreed not to sell or divulge the sauce recipe[1].

The West Side store closed after Saturday, June 3, 2017. Sanborn said it was "hard to get in and out of" and that he was looking for another West Side site[3]. The Cottage Grove Road store was still open, with limited hours, in May 2021[4].

Pizza

  • There are no "signature" pizzas on the menu, just a choice of three sizes (8", 12", and 14") and toppings.
  • It's possible to design each half of the pizza individually.
  • One very interesting, unique feature of their pizza is that they offer a bake-at-home option.
  • The crust is thin and flaky, covered with thick tomato sauce, and the pizza is cut into bite-sized squares[5]. The sausage is homemade[3].
  • In March 2016 an 8-inch pizza cost $5, a 12-inch $10 and a 14-inch $11[5].

Trivia

  • George L. "Buck" Backus founded the pizzeria in 1960, and also managed the "W" Club concessions beginning in 1962[6].
  • Backus is pictured in the logo, wearing an apron and a necktie[5].
  • Buck's is carry-out only: "No delivery, no dine-in"[7]. Since February 2012 Chief's Tavern, across the street at 300 Cottage Grove Rd., has served Buck's pizza, which gave customers their first way to eat one sitting down[7][5].
  • According to the website, Buck's encourages customers to save their receipts because trading in 10 will earn a free pizza.
  • Robbed:
    • in 1973[8], by a 19 year-old man and an accomplice[9].
    • in 1985[10].
  • Honored for good safety and sanitation by the Madison Dept of Public Health in 2006[11]. By then the West Side store had nine of these awards, and the Cottage Grove Road store five, since the program began in 1995[12].
  • The proprietor in 1991 was Andy Storkson, grandson-in-law of George L. Backus[6].
  • Highlighted in the "Cheap Eats" section of the The Capital Times in 1991[6].
  • A fire on December 13, 2012, in the vent above the pizza oven, did about $25,000 of damage to the Cottage Grove Road store. Nobody was hurt[13].
  • On Thanksgiving Day 2013 a van hit the building twice, first the side of Buck's and then the side of the pharmacy next door[14].

Locations

  • 219 Cottage Grove Rd.

Former Locations

  • 5502 University Ave. (2006 to June 3, 2017). It was at this address by October 15, 2006[15]. Two later articles put the move about 2007 or 2008.
  • 525 S. Midvale Blvd., in Midvale Plaza (to 2006[2]). The opening date has not been found.

External Links

Buck’s Pizza Website

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Moe, D. (2010, June 8). "Doug Moe: Ald. Sanborn buys Buck's Pizza, but won't mess with success." madison.com.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 (2006, November 1). "Take Note." madison.com.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kalk Derby, S. (2017, June 2). "West Side location of Buck's Pizza to close Saturday." madison.com.
  4. ↑ Kalk Derby, S. (2021, May 28). "Dive Inn going for 'authentic, cozy dive-bar feel'; aiming for July opening." madison.com.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Krug, E. (2016, March 15). "Let's Eat: Buck's Pizza and Chief's Tavern go together like — well, pizza and beer." madison.com.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Rath, J. (1991, April 6). "Buck's Pizza delivers history, taste." The Capital Times. 5D.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Kalk Derby, S. (2012, February 5). "New Chief's Tavern will feature Buck's Pizza." madison.com.
  8. ↑ (1973, March 7). "Pair Gets $250 In Robbery At Buck's Pizza." The Capital Times. 2.
  9. ↑ (1973, April 17). "Man, 19, Waiting Sentence, Charged in Other Felonies." Wisconsin State Journal. S5p1.
  10. ↑ (1985, September 23). "Buck's Pizza reports robbery." Wisconsin State Journal. P2S3.
  11. ↑ Balousek, M. (2006, March 10). "15 food businesses honored for safety, sanitation." Wisconsin State Journal. C8.
  12. ↑ Balousek, M. (2006, March 10). "15 food businesses honored for safety, sanitation." madison.com. p. C8.
  13. ↑ Kalk Derby, S. (2012, December 14). "Fire at Buck's Pizza on East Side causes about $25,000 damage." madison.com.
  14. ↑ Novak, B. (2013, December 3). "Alleged drunken driver hits East Side building, knocks over fire hydrant." madison.com.
  15. ↑ (2006, October 15). "Search for a loved one is agony." madison.com.
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