Midvale Plaza Pizza - Revision history

Jacques: Add Buck's 1962 store and phone number; the closing search

2026-10-30T04:07:54Z

Add Buck's 1962 store and phone number; the closing search

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:07, 30 October 2026
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	'''Midvale Plaza Pizza''' was a pizza, chicken and fish carryout in the [[Item:Q661\|Midvale Plaza]] shopping center on the west side of Madison. It was run by the plaza's IGA grocery store: its 1979 ads read "Midvale Plaza Pizza (by IGA)"<ref name="wsj-1979-08-10-p29">(1979, August 10). "Fish Special." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 29. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/405533514/ 405533514].</ref>. It took over the storefront of [[Doug’s Pizza Shop]], which had been there since at least 1970<ref name="wsj-1970-04-08-p13">(1970, April 8). Wedding announcement: the bridegroom, Russell Lee O'Kane, a 1969 graduate of Madison Area Technical College, 'is co-owner of Doug's Pizza'. Also in The Capital Times the same day (p. 35, image 519584445). ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 13. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/396875353/ 396875353].</ref><ref name="wsj-1972-10-14-p3">(1972, October 14). Midvale Plaza Shopping Center advertisement (Midvale Blvd. between Mineral Point Rd. and Tokay Blvd.): The Captain's Chair opening in November; Midvale Hobby Shop in new and expanded quarters; 'Present Merchants': Bergmans …. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 3. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/401207632/ 401207632].</ref>.		'''Midvale Plaza Pizza''' was a pizza, chicken and fish carryout in the [[Item:Q661\|Midvale Plaza]] shopping center on the west side of Madison. It was run by the plaza's IGA grocery store: its 1979 ads read "Midvale Plaza Pizza (by IGA)"<ref name="wsj-1979-08-10-p29">(1979, August 10). "Fish Special." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 29. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/405533514/ 405533514].</ref>. It took over the storefront of [[Doug’s Pizza Shop]], which had been there since at least 1970<ref name="wsj-1970-04-08-p13">(1970, April 8). Wedding announcement: the bridegroom, Russell Lee O'Kane, a 1969 graduate of Madison Area Technical College, 'is co-owner of Doug's Pizza'. Also in The Capital Times the same day (p. 35, image 519584445). ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 13. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/396875353/ 396875353].</ref><ref name="wsj-1972-10-14-p3">(1972, October 14). Midvale Plaza Shopping Center advertisement (Midvale Blvd. between Mineral Point Rd. and Tokay Blvd.): The Captain's Chair opening in November; Midvale Hobby Shop in new and expanded quarters; 'Present Merchants': Bergmans …. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 3. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/401207632/ 401207632].</ref>, and kept the phone number that [[Buck’s Pizza]] had used there in 1962<ref name="wsj-1962-02-12-p10">(1962, February 12). 'Bird Watchers... Love... Buck's Pizza. Open Nightly 'til 11:30 p.m. CE 8-5588, 523 S. Midvale.' One of a run of small Buck's ads in both papers, 1962–63. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 10. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/401163744/ 401163744].</ref>.

	==History==		==History==
			* 1962: [[Buck’s Pizza]] has its West Side shop at 523 S. Midvale Blvd., "open nightly 'til 11:30 p.m.", phone CE 8-5588, the same number Midvale Plaza Pizza used in 1979–80<ref name="wsj-1962-01-05-p24">(1962, January 5). Help wanted: part-time evening counter work; apply in person 'Buck's Pizza Shop, 523 Midvale Shopping Center'. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 24. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/401179529/ 401179529].</ref><ref name="wsj-1962-02-12-p10" />.
	* 1970–1975: [[Doug’s Pizza Shop]] is at [[Item:Q976\|523 S. Midvale Blvd.]]<ref name="phone-book-1970">Madison telephone directory, 1970. ''Madison telephone directory''. Cited on an earlier version of this wiki; not re-read.</ref><ref name="phone-book-1975">Madison telephone directory, 1975. ''Madison telephone directory''. Cited on an earlier version of this wiki; not re-read.</ref>. In October 1972 a Midvale Plaza ad lists Doug's Pizza among the plaza's merchants, beside the IGA Foodliner, Bergmans Pharmacy and a Baskin-Robbins<ref name="wsj-1972-10-14-p3" />.		* 1970–1975: [[Doug’s Pizza Shop]] is at [[Item:Q976\|523 S. Midvale Blvd.]]<ref name="phone-book-1970">Madison telephone directory, 1970. ''Madison telephone directory''. Cited on an earlier version of this wiki; not re-read.</ref><ref name="phone-book-1975">Madison telephone directory, 1975. ''Madison telephone directory''. Cited on an earlier version of this wiki; not re-read.</ref>. In October 1972 a Midvale Plaza ad lists Doug's Pizza among the plaza's merchants, beside the IGA Foodliner, Bergmans Pharmacy and a Baskin-Robbins<ref name="wsj-1972-10-14-p3" />.
	* 1978: classified ads with the number the pizza shop later used, 238-5588, offer a west-side fast-food carryout for sale. In May the owner is "retiring" and asks $17,500<ref name="wsj-1978-05-31-p52">(1978, May 31). Business Opportunities: 'FAST FOOD CARRYOUT — Madison's most unique business in excellent west side location, low overhead, completely equipped. $17,500, terms available to right party. Owner retiring. 238-5588 or 231-2773…. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 52. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/401249306/ 401249306].</ref>; in September the ad says "MUST SELL due to poor health," under $16,000<ref name="wsj-1978-09-26-p41">(1978, September 26). Business Opportunities: 'MUST SELL due to poor health. Unique carryout food operation in excellent westside location. Low overhead. Terms available. Completely equipped. Under $16,000. 238-5588, 231-2773.' Ran in both pape…. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 41. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/400998317/ 400998317].</ref>. The ads don't name the business.		* 1978: classified ads with the number the pizza shop later used, 238-5588, offer a west-side fast-food carryout for sale. In May the owner is "retiring" and asks $17,500<ref name="wsj-1978-05-31-p52">(1978, May 31). Business Opportunities: 'FAST FOOD CARRYOUT — Madison's most unique business in excellent west side location, low overhead, completely equipped. $17,500, terms available to right party. Owner retiring. 238-5588 or 231-2773…. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 52. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/401249306/ 401249306].</ref>; in September the ad says "MUST SELL due to poor health," under $16,000<ref name="wsj-1978-09-26-p41">(1978, September 26). Business Opportunities: 'MUST SELL due to poor health. Unique carryout food operation in excellent westside location. Low overhead. Terms available. Completely equipped. Under $16,000. 238-5588, 231-2773.' Ran in both pape…. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 41. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/400998317/ 400998317].</ref>. The ads don't name the business.
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	* August–September 1979: every Friday, "Midvale Plaza Pizza (by IGA)" advertises its fish special in the dining directories of both Madison papers<ref name="wsj-1979-08-10-p29" />.		* August–September 1979: every Friday, "Midvale Plaza Pizza (by IGA)" advertises its fish special in the dining directories of both Madison papers<ref name="wsj-1979-08-10-p29" />.
	* 1980: the Yellow Pages has a box ad for Midvale Plaza Pizza at 523 S. Midvale Blvd., 238-5588, open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 5 to 9 p.m., and closed Monday<ref name="yp-1980-p447">(1980). Madison Yellow Pages, 1980 edition (Wisconsin Telephone Co.), 'Pizza' classification, p. 447: listings Barnaby's Family Inn (4802 E. Washington Ave. 241-2131; 6613 Mineral Point Rd. 833-1671), Brat und Brau (1421 Regent; …. ''Madison telephone directory''. p. 447.</ref>.		* 1980: the Yellow Pages has a box ad for Midvale Plaza Pizza at 523 S. Midvale Blvd., 238-5588, open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 5 to 9 p.m., and closed Monday<ref name="yp-1980-p447">(1980). Madison Yellow Pages, 1980 edition (Wisconsin Telephone Co.), 'Pizza' classification, p. 447: listings Barnaby's Family Inn (4802 E. Washington Ave. 241-2131; 6613 Mineral Point Rd. 833-1671), Brat und Brau (1421 Regent; …. ''Madison telephone directory''. p. 447.</ref>.
	When the shop closed has not been found.		When the shop closed has not been found. The 1980 Yellow Pages is the last listing found, and neither the name nor its number appears in the Madison papers after 1980. Several plaza storefronts shared the 523 address: the Captain's Chair hair salon, which opened in the plaza in November 1972<ref name="wsj-1972-10-14-p3" />, gave 523 as its address in 1981 and 1982<ref name="wsj-1981-05-01-p59">(1981, May 1). The Captain's Chair family hairstyling centers; West: Midvale Plaza, 523 S. Midvale Blvd., 238-8286. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 59. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/401058447/ 401058447].</ref>, and The Competition Haircutters, "new" in December 1982, was there in 1983<ref name="wsj-1983-04-03-p11">(1983, April 3). 'Now there are two!' The Competition Haircutters: grand opening of The Competition East, 199 Cottage Grove Rd.; 'Growing rapidly — The Competition West, 523 S. Midvale Blvd. (608) 238-8830'. A Dec. 8, 1982 want ad (p. 40) c…. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 11. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/405671995/ 405671995].</ref>, so the salon ads don't show when the pizza shop's space changed hands.

	==Food==		==Food==

Jacques: New page: the pizza and chicken carryout at 523 S. Midvale Blvd., run by the Midvale Plaza IGA (1979–1980)

2026-10-30T03:54:02Z

New page: the pizza and chicken carryout at 523 S. Midvale Blvd., run by the Midvale Plaza IGA (1979–1980)

New page

'''Midvale Plaza Pizza''' was a pizza, chicken and fish carryout in the [[Item:Q661|Midvale Plaza]] shopping center on the west side of Madison. It was run by the plaza's IGA grocery store: its 1979 ads read "Midvale Plaza Pizza (by IGA)"<ref name="wsj-1979-08-10-p29">(1979, August 10). "Fish Special." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 29. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/405533514/ 405533514].</ref>. It took over the storefront of [[Doug’s Pizza Shop]], which had been there since at least 1970<ref name="wsj-1970-04-08-p13">(1970, April 8). Wedding announcement: the bridegroom, Russell Lee O'Kane, a 1969 graduate of Madison Area Technical College, 'is co-owner of Doug's Pizza'. Also in The Capital Times the same day (p. 35, image 519584445). ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 13. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/396875353/ 396875353].</ref><ref name="wsj-1972-10-14-p3">(1972, October 14). Midvale Plaza Shopping Center advertisement (Midvale Blvd. between Mineral Point Rd. and Tokay Blvd.): The Captain's Chair opening in November; Midvale Hobby Shop in new and expanded quarters; 'Present Merchants': Bergmans …. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 3. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/401207632/ 401207632].</ref>.

==History==
* 1970–1975: [[Doug’s Pizza Shop]] is at [[Item:Q976|523 S. Midvale Blvd.]]<ref name="phone-book-1970">Madison telephone directory, 1970. ''Madison telephone directory''. Cited on an earlier version of this wiki; not re-read.</ref><ref name="phone-book-1975">Madison telephone directory, 1975. ''Madison telephone directory''. Cited on an earlier version of this wiki; not re-read.</ref>. In October 1972 a Midvale Plaza ad lists Doug's Pizza among the plaza's merchants, beside the IGA Foodliner, Bergmans Pharmacy and a Baskin-Robbins<ref name="wsj-1972-10-14-p3" />.
* 1978: classified ads with the number the pizza shop later used, 238-5588, offer a west-side fast-food carryout for sale. In May the owner is "retiring" and asks $17,500<ref name="wsj-1978-05-31-p52">(1978, May 31). Business Opportunities: 'FAST FOOD CARRYOUT — Madison's most unique business in excellent west side location, low overhead, completely equipped. $17,500, terms available to right party. Owner retiring. 238-5588 or 231-2773…. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 52. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/401249306/ 401249306].</ref>; in September the ad says "MUST SELL due to poor health," under $16,000<ref name="wsj-1978-09-26-p41">(1978, September 26). Business Opportunities: 'MUST SELL due to poor health. Unique carryout food operation in excellent westside location. Low overhead. Terms available. Completely equipped. Under $16,000. 238-5588, 231-2773.' Ran in both pape…. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 41. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/400998317/ 400998317].</ref>. The ads don't name the business.
* November 1978 – March 1979: the same number advertises for help at a "Pizza & Deli business" open from 11 a.m. to about 7 p.m.<ref name="wsj-1978-11-18-p29">(1978, November 18). Help wanted: 'DEPENDABLE Honest person for Pizza & Deli business. Hours 11 a.m. to approximately 7 p.m. Some experience preferred. Call 238-5588.' Ran Nov. 18–23, 1978. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 29. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/396361629/ 396361629].</ref>, and for a short-order cook at a "West-side pizza and sandwich carry-out"<ref name="wsj-1979-03-31-p28">(1979, March 31). Help wanted: 'SHORT Order — Part time. Eves.: Fri.-Sat.-Sun.; Days: Sat. … West-side pizza and sandwich carry-out. 238-5588 for appointment.' Ran March 31 – April 2, 1979. ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 28. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/396463253/ 396463253].</ref>.
* August–September 1979: every Friday, "Midvale Plaza Pizza (by IGA)" advertises its fish special in the dining directories of both Madison papers<ref name="wsj-1979-08-10-p29" />.
* 1980: the Yellow Pages has a box ad for Midvale Plaza Pizza at 523 S. Midvale Blvd., 238-5588, open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 5 to 9 p.m., and closed Monday<ref name="yp-1980-p447">(1980). Madison Yellow Pages, 1980 edition (Wisconsin Telephone Co.), 'Pizza' classification, p. 447: listings Barnaby's Family Inn (4802 E. Washington Ave. 241-2131; 6613 Mineral Point Rd. 833-1671), Brat und Brau (1421 Regent; …. ''Madison telephone directory''. p. 447.</ref>.
When the shop closed has not been found.

==Food==
The 1980 ad offered "Delicious Pizza!" along with Tubs-O-Chicken, Tubs-O-Fish, dinners and sandwiches<ref name="yp-1980-p447" />. In 1979 the Friday special was a "Delicious Beer Batter Carryout Fish Dinner": five pieces of fish with french fries, cole slaw and a roll for $1.95 (regularly $2.50), or three dinners for $5<ref name="wsj-1979-08-10-p29" />.

==Locations==
* [[Item:Q976|523 S. Midvale Blvd.]], Midvale Plaza: by 1979 to at least 1980<ref name="wsj-1979-08-10-p29" /><ref name="yp-1980-p447" />. [[Buck’s Pizza]]'s West Side store was later two doors away, at 525 S. Midvale Blvd.

==See also==
* [[Doug’s Pizza Shop]]
* [[Item:Q2520|Midvale Plaza Pizza in the Madison Pizza Wiki database]]

==Notes==
<references />