Paisan’s

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Revision as of 13:52, 21 October 2026 by Jacques (talk | contribs) (Add the 1951 account of the founding and the 2015 fire (2015–2019 research))

Paisan's was an Italian restaurant near the University of Wisconsin campus, and one of the first places in Madison to get a pizza. It was founded in 1949, according to The Capital Times[1], or 1950, according to the State Journal[2], and closed in 2022.

History

Roy and Rose McCormick, who also founded Porta Bella in 1968, opened Paisan's with Rose's brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Bette Troia. Rose was a Troia, of an Italian family from the Greenbush neighbourhood[1]. It was "a popular spot for University of Wisconsin-Madison students — and a young Dave Zweifel's introduction to pizza"[1].

In September 2015 a grease fire in the pizza-oven ventilation system did about $100,000 of damage as the restaurant prepared to open for the day; no one was hurt, and Paisan's reopened on September 19[3].

In 1985 Wally Borowski, Ed Shinnick and Jerry Meier bought the restaurants from Roy McCormick; Meier retired about 2013[2]. Paisan's moved several times[2]:

  • the basement of Porta Bella, 425 N. Frances St., 1969 to 1975;
  • University Square, 1975 to 2006;
  • 131 W. Wilson St., 2006 to 2022. From September 2021 the city closed the building over structural concerns more than once, and the restaurant finally closed for good.

The pandemic had already been hard: Paisan's did "a reasonable amount of carryout" in the spring of 2020, and business picked up after it reopened that summer[4]; in December 2020 it advertised Grubhub delivery and "plenty of safe seating inside"[5]. On Friday, September 10, 2021, the city ordered the 12-story building closed because of its failing underground garage. Paisan's reopened on October 22, 2021, after six weeks, closed again in December, reopened in January 2022, and closed for the last time when the building was shut on June 6, 2022[4][6][7]. Wally Borowski, who still made pizzas at 67, held a "wake" for the staff at Porta Bella on June 14, 2022[7], and the city approved the building's demolition on June 27[8].

In December 2023 the owners planned to reopen Paisan's in Porta Bella's basement[2]. It never happened: Porta Bella closed on February 28, 2026, after 58 years, and Borowski and Shinnick retired[9][1].

Trivia

  • The founding date has three accounts: 1949 (Capital Times, 2026), 1950 (State Journal, 2023) and 1951 — a 2019 reprint of the paper's 1975 review says Paisan's "first opened in '51 where Vilas Hall is now on University Avenue"[10]. Who sold the restaurants to the 1985 buyers is still to be checked in the papers of the 1980s.

Former Locations

  • University Avenue, "where Vilas Hall is now" (from 1949, 1950 or 1951, by the differing accounts)[10].
  • 425 N. Frances St., in the basement of Porta Bella (1969 to 1975).
  • University Square (1975 to 2006).
  • 131 W. Wilson St. (2006 to 2022).

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Rodriguez, A. (2026, March 11). "Visit one of Madison's oldest restaurants on its final night of service." The Capital Times. p. O26. Newspapers.com images 1315337327, 1315337342.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Kalk Derby, S. (2023, December 12). "When will Paisan's be back? Co-owner doesn't want brand to 'fade'." madison.com.
  3. ↑ (2015, September 7). "Fire closes Paisan's Downtown restaurant." madison.com.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wroge, L. (2021, September 12). "City orders Downtown building with Paisan's closed due to 'structural concerns'." madison.com.
  5. ↑ (2020, December 2). Paisan's advertisement: delivery, gift cards and safe seating inside. The Capital Times. p. O27. Newspapers.com image 697545087.
  6. ↑ Kalk Derby, S. (2021, October 21). "Paisan's restaurant could reopen as early as Friday after building's forced closure." madison.com.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mosiman, D. (2022, June 16). "Fight to reopen compromised Paisan's restaurant building seems over." madison.com.
  8. ↑ Heidemann, E. (2022, June 28). "Madison Plan Commission OK's demolition permit for building that houses Paisan's restaurant." madison.com.
  9. ↑ Kalk Derby, S. (2026, February 18). "Porta Bella is closing this month after 58 years." madison.com.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Campbell, G. (2019, June 21). "Paisan's: After all these years, still great." madison.com.
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