View source for Frozen pizza

'''Frozen pizza''' has been sold in Madison since at least the 1950s, when grocery ads offered "frozen pizza pies"<ref name="wsj-1957-09-12-p20">(1957, September 12). National Food Stores ad: "Grazianos Frozen Pizza Pies", 12-oz. package 67 cents (also CT 1958-01-02 p17). ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 20. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/402097958/ 402097958].</ref>. Wisconsin became one of the centers of the industry. Several of the brands in Madison freezer cases were started in the state in the 1960s, often from a tavern or pizzeria kitchen, and later bought by national food companies<ref name="simonson-2024-10-07-frozen-pizza-cradle">Simonson, R. (2024, October 7). [https://robertsimonson.substack.com/p/the-frozen-pizza-cradle "The Frozen Pizza Cradle."] ''The Mix with Robert Simonson''.</ref><ref name="wikipedia-tombstone">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombstone_(pizza) "Tombstone (pizza)."] ''Wikipedia''. Retrieved October 28, 2026.</ref>. Some Madison restaurants have also sold their own pizzas frozen, and some bars and taprooms bake frozen pizzas made by local kitchens.

==Wisconsin brands in Madison stores==
{| class="wikitable"
! Brand !! Where it began !! Earliest Madison ad found
|-
| Roma || Davis Donnelly's Roman Inn, Eau Claire (1960s); a plant at Black River Falls from 1965<ref name="simonson-2024-10-07-frozen-pizza-cradle" /><ref name="wsj-1965-06-06-p25">(1965, June 6). "Lawyer To Establish Pizza Plant at Falls." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 25. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/397377200/ 397377200].</ref> || December 1964, probably this brand<ref name="wsj-1964-12-17-p9">(1964, December 17). New-store opening ad: "FREE! Roma Pizza", with cold meats, Pepsi, Thiele sausage and ice cream cones. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 9. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/397608798/ 397608798].</ref>
|-
| Tombstone || the Tombstone Tap, Medford (1962)<ref name="wikipedia-tombstone" /> || December 1973<ref name="wsj-1973-12-26-p45">(1973, December 26). C&P Foods coupon: a free quart of Pepsi with any variety of Tombstone Pizza, good through Dec. 31, 1973. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 45. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/402482685/ 402482685].</ref>
|-
| Jack's || Toby Elrick's garage, Little Chute (1960)<ref name="simonson-2024-10-07-frozen-pizza-cradle" /> || November 1977<ref name="wsj-1977-11-30-p13">(1977, November 30). Grocery ad: frozen sausage Jack's Pizza, 16 oz., $1.39. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 13. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/405514101/ 405514101].</ref>
|-
| Palermo's || a bakery on Milwaukee's East Side (1964)<ref name="wikipedia-palermos">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palermo%27s_Pizza "Palermo's Pizza."] ''Wikipedia''. Retrieved October 28, 2026.</ref> || October 1979<ref name="ct-1979-10-09-p51">(1979, October 9). Grocery ad: Palermo sausage pizza $1.99, beside Jeno's pizza. ''The Capital Times''. p. 51. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/520975168/ 520975168].</ref>
|-
| Emil's || Emil Caplene's pizza place, Watertown (1961)<ref name="simonson-2024-10-07-frozen-pizza-cradle" /> || 2017 (a sales route in the Madison market)<ref name="ct-2017-12-13-pO17">(2017, December 13). Emil's Pizza classified ad for a Madison-area sales route driver. ''The Capital Times''. p. O17. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/516779297/ 516779297].</ref>
|}

* '''Tombstone''' took its name from the Simek brothers' tavern in Medford, which stood across from a cemetery. In 1985 the Tombstone Pizza Corporation had a route-sales office in Sun Prairie<ref name="wikipedia-tombstone" /><ref name="ct-1985-04-13-p22">(1985, April 13). Classified: Route Sales — Tombstone Pizza Corporation, P.O. Box 104, Sun Prairie. ''The Capital Times''. p. 22. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/519917370/ 519917370].</ref>. Tombstone and Jack's are now Nestlé brands<ref name="wikipedia-tombstone" /><ref name="simonson-2024-10-07-frozen-pizza-cradle" />.
* '''Roma''' grew out of the Eau Claire restaurant of Davis Donnelly, an attorney, who first made pizzas for local grocery stores. In 1965 he set up a large frozen pizza plant in Black River Falls; the company, Dadco Food Products, was sold to Bernatello's in 2000<ref name="simonson-2024-10-07-frozen-pizza-cradle" /><ref name="wsj-1965-06-06-p25" />.
* '''Palermo's''' was started as a bakery by Jack and Zina Fallucca and also makes Screamin' Sicilian<ref name="wikipedia-palermos" />.
* In 2023 Madison Magazine counted close to 50 frozen pizza brands in more than four aisles of freezer cases at the west-side Woodman's. Its staff ranked six Wisconsin brands: Tombstone first, then DiGiorno, Jack's, Screamin' Sicilian, Palermo's and Roma<ref name="madmag-2023-09-21-frozen-pizza">Conklin, A. R. (2023, September 21). [https://www.channel3000.com/madison-magazine/why-is-wisconsin-obsessed-with-frozen-pizza/article_19b7ad70-58c3-11ee-86fd-1702f53e8d03.html "Why is Wisconsin obsessed with frozen pizza?"] ''Madison Magazine''.</ref>.

==Made in Madison==
* [[Bunky’s]]: the Capadona family were said to be the first to sell frozen pizzas to local grocery stores. In 2008 Bunky's Cafe and Silly Yak Bakery sold frozen gluten-free pizzas at Woodman's and Sentry Hilldale<ref name="mc-2008-05-28-gluten-free-za">Wegner, A. N. (2008, May 28). [https://madison.com/lifestyles/article_35778e43-4016-5b6c-8b66-9779e715fb68.html "No glut for gluten-free 'za."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.
* [[Paisan’s]]: in 1985 its Delitalia deli on University Avenue sold Paisan's pizza "frozen or hot," $4.75 for a 12-inch<ref name="wsj-1985-05-05-p103">Campbell, G. (1985, May 5). Review of Paisan's Delitalia, 3313 University Ave. (University Hill Plaza): Paisan's pizza frozen or hot, $4.75 for a 12-inch; 'some people swear by Paisan's thin-crust pizza'. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 103. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/401487720/ 401487720].</ref>.
* [[Gino’s]]: the Garganos' Gino's deli, open from 1982, kept a freezer of frozen Gino's stuffed pizzas<ref name="wsj-1986-03-30-p86">Smith, S. L. (1986, March 30). Review of Gino's deli, open since 1982, with a freezer of frozen Gino's stuffed pizzas; owned by Kathy and Gino Gargano, 'who also own Gino's at 540 State St.'. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 86. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/402304070/ 402304070].</ref>.
* [[Fraboni’s]], the Italian deli in Monona, makes its own 12-inch frozen pizzas, with a Pizza of the Month<ref name="ct-2012-01-11-p3">(2012, January 11). Fraboni's playoff ad: "All Large Fraboni's Frozen Pizzas $5.49 each". ''The Capital Times''. p. 3.</ref><ref name="ct-2019-02-13-pO18">(2019, February 13). Fraboni's ad: "February Pizza of the Month: our Delicious C.P.W. pizza — VOTED BEST FROZEN PIZZA IN WISCONSIN" (by Garry Fraboni), Cheese Parsley and Wine sausage 12-inch pizza $6.49. ''The Capital Times''. p. O18. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/592862863/ 592862863].</ref>.
* [[Uncle E’s Pizza]] sold frozen pizzas from a charity food trailer in 2015<ref name="mc-2015-07-31-uncle-es">Christians, L. (2015, July 31). [https://madison.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/article_b77fbfdc-625c-51dd-a2b5-2f1b441e5482.html "Uncle E's Pizza sells dinner with a side of philanthropy."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.
* [[Off the Block]], made by teens in the Mentoring Positives youth program since 2016<ref name="ct-2017-01-04-pO30">(2017, January 4). Year in food events: at Goodman Community Center, teens in the Mentoring Positives and PEOPLE programs developed a frozen pizza prototype in 2016, to be marketed as Off the Block pizza. ''The Capital Times''. p. O30. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/516779207/ 516779207].</ref><ref name="ct-2019-10-23-pO19">(2019, October 23). Mentoring Positives' 15th anniversary: it has created two products, salsa and frozen pizza, under the Off The Block brand. ''The Capital Times''. p. O19. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/610763848/ 610763848].</ref>.
* [[Rocky Rococo]] turned down a grocery-store line: in 1979 Oscar Mayer proposed selling Rocky's pizzas in grocery stores, and the founders said no, since they could not keep the quality in a frozen pizza<ref name="madmag-2017-12-01-rocky-archive">Moe, D. (2017, December 1). [https://www.channel3000.com/madison-magazine/dining-and-drink/from-the-archive-the-start-of-rocky-rococo-s/article_16aac6c1-6ac2-5026-9bb6-cc7ff7f63df9.html "From the archive: The start of Rocky Rococo's."] ''Madison Magazine''.</ref>.
* [[Salvatore's Tomato Pies]] developed frozen 10-inch pizzas at its Monona commissary in 2020–21<ref name="mc-2021-08-20-dark-horse-artbar">Kalk Derby, S. (2021, August 20). [https://madison.com/galleries/article_b8dca43b-15b8-5a5e-b232-b158da60d69e.html "Dark Horse rides again: New gallery and music space taking shape in former Star Bar."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.

==Pizzas baked at bars==
* In 2013 One Barrel Brewing, 2001 Atwood Ave., served "a locally made 12-inch Fraboni's pizza"<ref name="ct-2013-04-18-p5">Bedford, S. (2013, April 18). Let's Eat: One Barrel Brewing, 2001 Atwood Ave., serves "a locally made 12-inch Fraboni's pizza, usually $10, only $7 before 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays"; cheese, pepperoni, sausage, veggie, and sausage and giardiniera. ''The Capital Times''. p. 5. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/521039603/ 521039603].</ref>.
* In 2019 Garth's Brew Bar, planned for 1726 Monroe St., said its only food would be Batch Bakehouse pretzels and Fraboni's pizzas<ref name="madmag-2019-08-15-garths-brew-bar">Inveiss, M. (2019, August 15). [https://www.channel3000.com/madison-magazine/dining-and-drink/garth-s-brew-bar-set-to-open-this-fall-concentrates-on-expertly-curated-craft-beers/article_0f06091b-6789-501b-8de7-791603395fff.html "Garth's Brew Bar, set to open this fall, concentrates on expertly curated, craft beers."] ''Madison Magazine''.</ref>.
* By 2021 Salvatore's frozen pizzas were sold at I/O Arcade Bar and at Lark Market in Janesville<ref name="mc-2021-08-30-salvatores-pandemic">Christians, L. (2021, August 30). [https://madison.com/entertainment/dining/article_f5434a86-7cb3-5480-aa03-f74f4f49e7ba.html "Salvatore's Tomato Pies swims through the pandemic, picking up speed."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.

==See also==
* [[Off the Block]]
* [[Fraboni’s]]
* [[Uncle E’s Pizza]]

==Notes==
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