Toppers Pizza - Revision history

Jacques: Add the 2000–2001 recruiting ads and the 2003–2004 attestations

2026-10-24T05:09:33Z

Add the 2000–2001 recruiting ads and the 2003–2004 attestations

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:09, 24 October 2026
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	==History==		==History==
	Scott Gittrich, a Domino's driver at the University of Illinois in 1984, opened the first Toppers in Champaign, Illinois, in 1991 and a second in Whitewater in 1993, in a closed Domino's. He made Whitewater the headquarters and began franchising in 2000, expanding into the Madison and Milwaukee markets and, in 2006, the Twin Cities. In March 2000 the chain, then six stores, was advertising in Madison for manager trainees, promising "5 more to open this year"<ref name="wsj-2000-03-22-p33">(2000, March 22). "Rock with us! — Topper's Pizza manager-trainee recruiting ad." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 33. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/407198143/ 407198143].</ref>; by July 2001 it had eight stores<ref name="wsj-2001-07-11-p7">(2001, July 11). "Rock with us! — Topper's Pizza manager-trainee recruiting ad." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 7. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/407328343/ 407328343].</ref>. Topper's Pizza at 1368 Regent St. is first found in the Madison papers in August 2000, when a cyclist attacked on Regent Street ran to its door, and that October a driver was assaulted delivering to a dormitory<ref name="ct-2000-08-17-p2" /><ref name="ct-2000-10-16-p4">Kalk, S. (2000, October 16). "Badger player beat up pizza man, cops say." ''The Capital Times''. p. 4. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522180979/ 522180979].</ref>. In 2002 the Daily Cardinal recommended it for a late-night pizza — open until 3:30 a.m. every day, with taco, fajita and baked potato pizzas and the New Orleans-tinged Creole Topper<ref name="dc-2002-06-06-regent-street">McCarty, B. (2002, June 6). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_a44f79a5-d017-5b51-af5f-a531aeb504bb.html "Alternative dining on Regent Street."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref> — and in 2003 its assistant manager, across the street from the Greenbush Bakery, said he sometimes worked alone late at night<ref name="dc-2003-04-28-greenbush-robbed">Borgstrom, M. (2003, April 28). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_8f2d7868-3c1f-5a17-8e8f-930a7e84635d.html "Armed man robs Greenbush."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref>. In October 2003 the company's website said Topper's "has grown to 10 stores in the last 10 years, with more than 240 employees" and would open two more within six months: its first in Minnesota and "the second within the city of Madison … expected to service the southwest side of the city"<ref name="toppers-com-2003-10-07">[http://www.toppers.com/n-news/article.asp?id=18 "Topper's Prepares for Growth!"] ''toppers.com''. Retrieved October 22, 2026.</ref>.		Scott Gittrich, a Domino's driver at the University of Illinois in 1984, opened the first Toppers in Champaign, Illinois, in 1991 and a second in Whitewater in 1993, in a closed Domino's. He made Whitewater the headquarters and began franchising in 2000, expanding into the Madison and Milwaukee markets and, in 2006, the Twin Cities. In March 2000 the chain, then six stores, was advertising in Madison for manager trainees, promising "5 more to open this year"<ref name="wsj-2000-03-22-p33">(2000, March 22). "Rock with us! — Topper's Pizza manager-trainee recruiting ad." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 33. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/407198143/ 407198143].</ref>; by July 2001 it had eight stores<ref name="wsj-2001-07-11-p7">(2001, July 11). "Rock with us! — Topper's Pizza manager-trainee recruiting ad." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 7. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/407328343/ 407328343].</ref>. Topper's Pizza at 1368 Regent St. is first found in the Madison papers in August 2000, when a cyclist attacked on Regent Street ran to its door, and that October a driver was assaulted delivering to a dormitory<ref name="ct-2000-08-17-p2" /><ref name="ct-2000-10-16-p4">Kalk, S. (2000, October 16). "Badger player beat up pizza man, cops say." ''The Capital Times''. p. 4. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522180979/ 522180979].</ref>. In 2002 the Daily Cardinal recommended it for a late-night pizza — open until 3:30 a.m. every day, with taco, fajita and baked potato pizzas and the New Orleans-tinged Creole Topper<ref name="dc-2002-06-06-regent-street">McCarty, B. (2002, June 6). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_a44f79a5-d017-5b51-af5f-a531aeb504bb.html "Alternative dining on Regent Street."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref> — and in 2003 its assistant manager, across the street from the Greenbush Bakery, said he sometimes worked alone late at night<ref name="dc-2003-04-28-greenbush-robbed">Borgstrom, M. (2003, April 28). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_8f2d7868-3c1f-5a17-8e8f-930a7e84635d.html "Armed man robs Greenbush."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref>. In October 2003 the company's website said Topper's "has grown to 10 stores in the last 10 years, with more than 240 employees" and would open two more within six months: its first in Minnesota and "the second within the city of Madison … expected to service the southwest side of the city"<ref name="toppers-com-2003-10-07">[http://www.toppers.com/n-news/article.asp?id=18 "Topper's Prepares for Growth!"] ''toppers.com''. Internet Archive capture of October 7, 2003: [https://web.archive.org/web/20031203221500/http://www.toppers.com/n-news/article.asp?id=18 archived copy]. Retrieved October 22, 2026.</ref>.

	In January 2005 the chain announced a franchising drive — Janesville, Green Bay, Milwaukee and Racine-Kenosha — with a dozen stores, "including two in Madison — at 1368 Regent St. and 7475 Mineral Point Road"; "the Topper's brand and locations have been around for almost 15 years," Gittrich said<ref name="ct-2005-01-13-p37" />. That month the Daily Cardinal listed Topper's among the pizzerias delivering to campus<ref name="dc-2005-01-27-order-out">Ferguson, L. (2005, January 27). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_66b15c22-1b7f-5ce4-8cc6-a166839f6c61.html "When you are in doubt, order out."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref>. In June 2007 a Topper's driver was punched and robbed of cash and pizza on West Dayton Street<ref name="mc-2007-06-03-toppers-driver-robbed">(2007, June 3). [https://madison.com/news/local/article_19aec190-660c-5f23-a03a-a3837c266fc3.html "Pizza man punched, robbed of cash, pizza."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; in June 2008 the Regent Street store was open until 3:30 a.m. and took three votes in a late-night survey<ref name="mc-2008-06-28-late-night-snack-shacks">Hebel, R. (2008, June 28). [https://madison.com/lifestyles/article_30eeff86-8bd4-544a-8e73-7bd60863dc6d.html "Favorite late-night snack shacks."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; and on September 28, 2009, a man held it up with a pair of scissors, apologizing to the clerk<ref name="mc-2009-09-28-toppers-scissors">(2009, September 28). [https://madison.com/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_42f0d3a9-8efc-5832-b45f-7a57825f779d.html "Man holds up Topper's Pizza with pair of scissors."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. In 2010 the chain had 25 stores, about 700 employees and sales of $20.3 million; the stores stayed open until 3 or 4 a.m. and sent little green army men with their deliveries<ref name="mc-2010-02-27-toppers-gittrich">Burns, J. (2010, February 27). [https://madison.com/business/article_67993bac-2336-11df-85c6-001cc4c002e0.html "Executive Q&A: Toppers Pizza founder Scott Gittrich on pie appeal."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.		In January 2005 the chain announced a franchising drive — Janesville, Green Bay, Milwaukee and Racine-Kenosha — with a dozen stores, "including two in Madison — at 1368 Regent St. and 7475 Mineral Point Road"; "the Topper's brand and locations have been around for almost 15 years," Gittrich said<ref name="ct-2005-01-13-p37" />. That month the Daily Cardinal listed Topper's among the pizzerias delivering to campus<ref name="dc-2005-01-27-order-out">Ferguson, L. (2005, January 27). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_66b15c22-1b7f-5ce4-8cc6-a166839f6c61.html "When you are in doubt, order out."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref>. In June 2007 a Topper's driver was punched and robbed of cash and pizza on West Dayton Street<ref name="mc-2007-06-03-toppers-driver-robbed">(2007, June 3). [https://madison.com/news/local/article_19aec190-660c-5f23-a03a-a3837c266fc3.html "Pizza man punched, robbed of cash, pizza."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; in June 2008 the Regent Street store was open until 3:30 a.m. and took three votes in a late-night survey<ref name="mc-2008-06-28-late-night-snack-shacks">Hebel, R. (2008, June 28). [https://madison.com/lifestyles/article_30eeff86-8bd4-544a-8e73-7bd60863dc6d.html "Favorite late-night snack shacks."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; and on September 28, 2009, a man held it up with a pair of scissors, apologizing to the clerk<ref name="mc-2009-09-28-toppers-scissors">(2009, September 28). [https://madison.com/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_42f0d3a9-8efc-5832-b45f-7a57825f779d.html "Man holds up Topper's Pizza with pair of scissors."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. In 2010 the chain had 25 stores, about 700 employees and sales of $20.3 million; the stores stayed open until 3 or 4 a.m. and sent little green army men with their deliveries<ref name="mc-2010-02-27-toppers-gittrich">Burns, J. (2010, February 27). [https://madison.com/business/article_67993bac-2336-11df-85c6-001cc4c002e0.html "Executive Q&A: Toppers Pizza founder Scott Gittrich on pie appeal."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.

Jacques: Add the 2000–2001 recruiting ads and the 2003–2004 attestations

2026-10-23T15:59:28Z

Add the 2000–2001 recruiting ads and the 2003–2004 attestations

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:59, 23 October 2026
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	==History==		==History==
	Scott Gittrich, a Domino's driver at the University of Illinois in 1984, opened the first Toppers in Champaign, Illinois, in 1991 and a second in Whitewater in 1993, in a closed Domino's. He made Whitewater the headquarters and began franchising in 2000, expanding into the Madison and Milwaukee markets and, in 2006, the Twin Cities. Topper's Pizza at 1368 Regent St. is first found in the Madison papers in August 2000, when a cyclist attacked on Regent Street ran to its door, and that October a driver was assaulted delivering to a dormitory<ref name="ct-2000-08-17-p2" /><ref name="ct-2000-10-16-p4">Kalk, S. (2000, October 16). "Badger player beat up pizza man, cops say." ''The Capital Times''. p. 4. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522180979/ 522180979].</ref>. In 2002 the Daily Cardinal recommended it for a late-night pizza — open until 3:30 a.m. every day, with taco, fajita and baked potato pizzas and the New Orleans-tinged Creole Topper<ref name="dc-2002-06-06-regent-street">McCarty, B. (2002, June 6). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_a44f79a5-d017-5b51-af5f-a531aeb504bb.html "Alternative dining on Regent Street."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref> — and in 2003 its assistant manager, across the street from the Greenbush Bakery, said he sometimes worked alone late at night<ref name="dc-2003-04-28-greenbush-robbed">Borgstrom, M. (2003, April 28). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_8f2d7868-3c1f-5a17-8e8f-930a7e84635d.html "Armed man robs Greenbush."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref>. In October 2003 the company's website said Topper's "has grown to 10 stores in the last 10 years, with more than 240 employees" and would open two more within six months: its first in Minnesota and "the second within the city of Madison … expected to service the southwest side of the city"<ref name="toppers-com-2003-10-07">[http://www.toppers.com/n-news/article.asp?id=18 "Topper's Prepares for Growth!"] ''toppers.com''. Retrieved October 22, 2026.</ref>.		Scott Gittrich, a Domino's driver at the University of Illinois in 1984, opened the first Toppers in Champaign, Illinois, in 1991 and a second in Whitewater in 1993, in a closed Domino's. He made Whitewater the headquarters and began franchising in 2000, expanding into the Madison and Milwaukee markets and, in 2006, the Twin Cities. In March 2000 the chain, then six stores, was advertising in Madison for manager trainees, promising "5 more to open this year"<ref name="wsj-2000-03-22-p33">(2000, March 22). "Rock with us! — Topper's Pizza manager-trainee recruiting ad." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 33. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/407198143/ 407198143].</ref>; by July 2001 it had eight stores<ref name="wsj-2001-07-11-p7">(2001, July 11). "Rock with us! — Topper's Pizza manager-trainee recruiting ad." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 7. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/407328343/ 407328343].</ref>. Topper's Pizza at 1368 Regent St. is first found in the Madison papers in August 2000, when a cyclist attacked on Regent Street ran to its door, and that October a driver was assaulted delivering to a dormitory<ref name="ct-2000-08-17-p2" /><ref name="ct-2000-10-16-p4">Kalk, S. (2000, October 16). "Badger player beat up pizza man, cops say." ''The Capital Times''. p. 4. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522180979/ 522180979].</ref>. In 2002 the Daily Cardinal recommended it for a late-night pizza — open until 3:30 a.m. every day, with taco, fajita and baked potato pizzas and the New Orleans-tinged Creole Topper<ref name="dc-2002-06-06-regent-street">McCarty, B. (2002, June 6). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_a44f79a5-d017-5b51-af5f-a531aeb504bb.html "Alternative dining on Regent Street."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref> — and in 2003 its assistant manager, across the street from the Greenbush Bakery, said he sometimes worked alone late at night<ref name="dc-2003-04-28-greenbush-robbed">Borgstrom, M. (2003, April 28). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_8f2d7868-3c1f-5a17-8e8f-930a7e84635d.html "Armed man robs Greenbush."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref>. In October 2003 the company's website said Topper's "has grown to 10 stores in the last 10 years, with more than 240 employees" and would open two more within six months: its first in Minnesota and "the second within the city of Madison … expected to service the southwest side of the city"<ref name="toppers-com-2003-10-07">[http://www.toppers.com/n-news/article.asp?id=18 "Topper's Prepares for Growth!"] ''toppers.com''. Retrieved October 22, 2026.</ref>.

	In January 2005 the chain announced a franchising drive — Janesville, Green Bay, Milwaukee and Racine-Kenosha — with a dozen stores, "including two in Madison — at 1368 Regent St. and 7475 Mineral Point Road"; "the Topper's brand and locations have been around for almost 15 years," Gittrich said<ref name="ct-2005-01-13-p37" />. That month the Daily Cardinal listed Topper's among the pizzerias delivering to campus<ref name="dc-2005-01-27-order-out">Ferguson, L. (2005, January 27). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_66b15c22-1b7f-5ce4-8cc6-a166839f6c61.html "When you are in doubt, order out."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref>. In June 2007 a Topper's driver was punched and robbed of cash and pizza on West Dayton Street<ref name="mc-2007-06-03-toppers-driver-robbed">(2007, June 3). [https://madison.com/news/local/article_19aec190-660c-5f23-a03a-a3837c266fc3.html "Pizza man punched, robbed of cash, pizza."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; in June 2008 the Regent Street store was open until 3:30 a.m. and took three votes in a late-night survey<ref name="mc-2008-06-28-late-night-snack-shacks">Hebel, R. (2008, June 28). [https://madison.com/lifestyles/article_30eeff86-8bd4-544a-8e73-7bd60863dc6d.html "Favorite late-night snack shacks."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; and on September 28, 2009, a man held it up with a pair of scissors, apologizing to the clerk<ref name="mc-2009-09-28-toppers-scissors">(2009, September 28). [https://madison.com/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_42f0d3a9-8efc-5832-b45f-7a57825f779d.html "Man holds up Topper's Pizza with pair of scissors."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. In 2010 the chain had 25 stores, about 700 employees and sales of $20.3 million; the stores stayed open until 3 or 4 a.m. and sent little green army men with their deliveries<ref name="mc-2010-02-27-toppers-gittrich">Burns, J. (2010, February 27). [https://madison.com/business/article_67993bac-2336-11df-85c6-001cc4c002e0.html "Executive Q&A: Toppers Pizza founder Scott Gittrich on pie appeal."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.		In January 2005 the chain announced a franchising drive — Janesville, Green Bay, Milwaukee and Racine-Kenosha — with a dozen stores, "including two in Madison — at 1368 Regent St. and 7475 Mineral Point Road"; "the Topper's brand and locations have been around for almost 15 years," Gittrich said<ref name="ct-2005-01-13-p37" />. That month the Daily Cardinal listed Topper's among the pizzerias delivering to campus<ref name="dc-2005-01-27-order-out">Ferguson, L. (2005, January 27). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_66b15c22-1b7f-5ce4-8cc6-a166839f6c61.html "When you are in doubt, order out."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref>. In June 2007 a Topper's driver was punched and robbed of cash and pizza on West Dayton Street<ref name="mc-2007-06-03-toppers-driver-robbed">(2007, June 3). [https://madison.com/news/local/article_19aec190-660c-5f23-a03a-a3837c266fc3.html "Pizza man punched, robbed of cash, pizza."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; in June 2008 the Regent Street store was open until 3:30 a.m. and took three votes in a late-night survey<ref name="mc-2008-06-28-late-night-snack-shacks">Hebel, R. (2008, June 28). [https://madison.com/lifestyles/article_30eeff86-8bd4-544a-8e73-7bd60863dc6d.html "Favorite late-night snack shacks."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; and on September 28, 2009, a man held it up with a pair of scissors, apologizing to the clerk<ref name="mc-2009-09-28-toppers-scissors">(2009, September 28). [https://madison.com/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_42f0d3a9-8efc-5832-b45f-7a57825f779d.html "Man holds up Topper's Pizza with pair of scissors."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. In 2010 the chain had 25 stores, about 700 employees and sales of $20.3 million; the stores stayed open until 3 or 4 a.m. and sent little green army men with their deliveries<ref name="mc-2010-02-27-toppers-gittrich">Burns, J. (2010, February 27). [https://madison.com/business/article_67993bac-2336-11df-85c6-001cc4c002e0.html "Executive Q&A: Toppers Pizza founder Scott Gittrich on pie appeal."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.
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	==Locations==		==Locations==
	* 1368 Regent St. (by August 2000<ref name="ct-2000-08-17-p2" />; the opening date has not been found).		* 1368 Regent St. (by August 2000<ref name="ct-2000-08-17-p2" />; the opening date has not been found). In May 2003 the store was hiring drivers at $10 to $12 an hour and promising to train pizza makers<ref name="ct-2003-05-12-p22">(2003, May 12). "Topper's Pizza help-wanted ad: drivers earn about $10–$12 an hour; pizza makers and order takers; apply at 1368 Regent St." ''The Capital Times''. p. 22. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522532898/ 522532898].</ref>; in 2004 it was thanked by Community Work Services for hiring people with disabilities<ref name="wsj-2004-09-23-p4">(2004, September 23). "Community Work Services 20th-anniversary thank-you ad." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 4. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/406816285/ 406816285].</ref>.

	===Former Locations===		===Former Locations===

Jacques: Add the 2000–2004 years from the newspaper research recorded in the database; earlier text kept

2026-10-22T07:11:49Z

Add the 2000–2004 years from the newspaper research recorded in the database; earlier text kept

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:11, 22 October 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Toppers Pizza''' is a late-night pizza delivery chain based in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It had two Madison stores by January 2005, at 1368 Regent St. and 7475 Mineral Point Rd.<ref name="ct-2005-01-13-p37">(2005, January 13). "Topper's Pizza plans big franchising effort." ''The Capital Times''. p. 37. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/525981184/ 525981184].</ref>		'''Toppers Pizza''' is a late-night pizza delivery chain based in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Its Regent Street store was open by August 2000<ref name="ct-2000-08-17-p2">(2000, August 17). "Hate crime charged after attack on cyclist outside Topper's Pizza." ''The Capital Times''. p. 2. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522655231/ 522655231].</ref>, and it had two Madison stores by January 2005, at 1368 Regent St. and 7475 Mineral Point Rd.<ref name="ct-2005-01-13-p37">(2005, January 13). "Topper's Pizza plans big franchising effort." ''The Capital Times''. p. 37. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/525981184/ 525981184].</ref>

	==History==		==History==
	Scott Gittrich, a Domino's driver at the University of Illinois in 1984, opened the first Toppers in Champaign, Illinois, in 1991 and a second in Whitewater in 1993, in a closed Domino's. He made Whitewater the headquarters and began franchising in 2000, expanding into the Madison and Milwaukee markets and, in 2006, the Twin Cities. In January 2005 the chain announced a franchising drive — Janesville, Green Bay, Milwaukee and Racine-Kenosha — with a dozen stores, "including two in Madison — at 1368 Regent St. and 7475 Mineral Point Road"; "the Topper's brand and locations have been around for almost 15 years," Gittrich said<ref name="ct-2005-01-13-p37" />. That month the Daily Cardinal listed Topper's among the pizzerias delivering to campus<ref name="dc-2005-01-27-order-out">Ferguson, L. (2005, January 27). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_66b15c22-1b7f-5ce4-8cc6-a166839f6c61.html "When you are in doubt, order out."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref>. In June 2007 a Topper's driver was punched and robbed of cash and pizza on West Dayton Street<ref name="mc-2007-06-03-toppers-driver-robbed">(2007, June 3). [https://madison.com/news/local/article_19aec190-660c-5f23-a03a-a3837c266fc3.html "Pizza man punched, robbed of cash, pizza."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; in June 2008 the Regent Street store was open until 3:30 a.m. and took three votes in a late-night survey<ref name="mc-2008-06-28-late-night-snack-shacks">Hebel, R. (2008, June 28). [https://madison.com/lifestyles/article_30eeff86-8bd4-544a-8e73-7bd60863dc6d.html "Favorite late-night snack shacks."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; and on September 28, 2009, a man held it up with a pair of scissors, apologizing to the clerk<ref name="mc-2009-09-28-toppers-scissors">(2009, September 28). [https://madison.com/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_42f0d3a9-8efc-5832-b45f-7a57825f779d.html "Man holds up Topper's Pizza with pair of scissors."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. In 2010 the chain had 25 stores, about 700 employees and sales of $20.3 million; the stores stayed open until 3 or 4 a.m. and sent little green army men with their deliveries<ref name="mc-2010-02-27-toppers-gittrich">Burns, J. (2010, February 27). [https://madison.com/business/article_67993bac-2336-11df-85c6-001cc4c002e0.html "Executive Q&A: Toppers Pizza founder Scott Gittrich on pie appeal."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.		Scott Gittrich, a Domino's driver at the University of Illinois in 1984, opened the first Toppers in Champaign, Illinois, in 1991 and a second in Whitewater in 1993, in a closed Domino's. He made Whitewater the headquarters and began franchising in 2000, expanding into the Madison and Milwaukee markets and, in 2006, the Twin Cities. Topper's Pizza at 1368 Regent St. is first found in the Madison papers in August 2000, when a cyclist attacked on Regent Street ran to its door, and that October a driver was assaulted delivering to a dormitory<ref name="ct-2000-08-17-p2" /><ref name="ct-2000-10-16-p4">Kalk, S. (2000, October 16). "Badger player beat up pizza man, cops say." ''The Capital Times''. p. 4. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522180979/ 522180979].</ref>. In 2002 the Daily Cardinal recommended it for a late-night pizza — open until 3:30 a.m. every day, with taco, fajita and baked potato pizzas and the New Orleans-tinged Creole Topper<ref name="dc-2002-06-06-regent-street">McCarty, B. (2002, June 6). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_a44f79a5-d017-5b51-af5f-a531aeb504bb.html "Alternative dining on Regent Street."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref> — and in 2003 its assistant manager, across the street from the Greenbush Bakery, said he sometimes worked alone late at night<ref name="dc-2003-04-28-greenbush-robbed">Borgstrom, M. (2003, April 28). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_8f2d7868-3c1f-5a17-8e8f-930a7e84635d.html "Armed man robs Greenbush."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref>. In October 2003 the company's website said Topper's "has grown to 10 stores in the last 10 years, with more than 240 employees" and would open two more within six months: its first in Minnesota and "the second within the city of Madison … expected to service the southwest side of the city"<ref name="toppers-com-2003-10-07">[http://www.toppers.com/n-news/article.asp?id=18 "Topper's Prepares for Growth!"] ''toppers.com''. Retrieved October 22, 2026.</ref>.

			In January 2005 the chain announced a franchising drive — Janesville, Green Bay, Milwaukee and Racine-Kenosha — with a dozen stores, "including two in Madison — at 1368 Regent St. and 7475 Mineral Point Road"; "the Topper's brand and locations have been around for almost 15 years," Gittrich said<ref name="ct-2005-01-13-p37" />. That month the Daily Cardinal listed Topper's among the pizzerias delivering to campus<ref name="dc-2005-01-27-order-out">Ferguson, L. (2005, January 27). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_66b15c22-1b7f-5ce4-8cc6-a166839f6c61.html "When you are in doubt, order out."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref>. In June 2007 a Topper's driver was punched and robbed of cash and pizza on West Dayton Street<ref name="mc-2007-06-03-toppers-driver-robbed">(2007, June 3). [https://madison.com/news/local/article_19aec190-660c-5f23-a03a-a3837c266fc3.html "Pizza man punched, robbed of cash, pizza."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; in June 2008 the Regent Street store was open until 3:30 a.m. and took three votes in a late-night survey<ref name="mc-2008-06-28-late-night-snack-shacks">Hebel, R. (2008, June 28). [https://madison.com/lifestyles/article_30eeff86-8bd4-544a-8e73-7bd60863dc6d.html "Favorite late-night snack shacks."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; and on September 28, 2009, a man held it up with a pair of scissors, apologizing to the clerk<ref name="mc-2009-09-28-toppers-scissors">(2009, September 28). [https://madison.com/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_42f0d3a9-8efc-5832-b45f-7a57825f779d.html "Man holds up Topper's Pizza with pair of scissors."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. In 2010 the chain had 25 stores, about 700 employees and sales of $20.3 million; the stores stayed open until 3 or 4 a.m. and sent little green army men with their deliveries<ref name="mc-2010-02-27-toppers-gittrich">Burns, J. (2010, February 27). [https://madison.com/business/article_67993bac-2336-11df-85c6-001cc4c002e0.html "Executive Q&A: Toppers Pizza founder Scott Gittrich on pie appeal."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.

	==Pizza==		==Pizza==
			* The Creole Topper, a New Orleans-tinged pizza, and taco, fajita and baked potato pizzas were on the Regent Street menu in 2002<ref name="dc-2002-06-06-regent-street" />.
	* Topperstix, the cheesy breadsticks, and the Hangover Helper pizza were signature items in 2010<ref name="mc-2010-02-27-toppers-gittrich" />.		* Topperstix, the cheesy breadsticks, and the Hangover Helper pizza were signature items in 2010<ref name="mc-2010-02-27-toppers-gittrich" />.

	==Locations==		==Locations==
	* 1368 Regent St. (by ~~January 2005; the opening date has not been found)~~<ref name="ct-~~2005~~-01-13-~~p37~~" />.		* 1368 Regent St. (by August 2000<ref name="ct-2000-08-17-p2" />; the opening date has not been found).

	===Former Locations===		===Former Locations===
	* 7475 Mineral Point Rd. (by January 2005)<ref name="ct-2005-01-13-p37" />.		* 7475 Mineral Point Rd. (planned in October 2003 as the second Madison store, for the southwest side<ref name="toppers-com-2003-10-07" />; open by January 2005<ref name="ct-2005-01-13-p37" />).

	==See also==		==See also==

Jacques: Add the 2005–2009 years from the newspaper research recorded in the database; earlier text kept

2026-10-22T03:38:39Z

Add the 2005–2009 years from the newspaper research recorded in the database; earlier text kept

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:38, 22 October 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Toppers Pizza''' is a late-night pizza delivery chain based in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It ~~has~~ had ~~a store~~ at 1368 Regent St. ~~in Madison since the 2000s~~.		'''Toppers Pizza''' is a late-night pizza delivery chain based in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It had two Madison stores by January 2005, at 1368 Regent St. and 7475 Mineral Point Rd.<ref name="ct-2005-01-13-p37">(2005, January 13). "Topper's Pizza plans big franchising effort." ''The Capital Times''. p. 37. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/525981184/ 525981184].</ref>

	==History==		==History==
	Scott Gittrich, a Domino's driver at the University of Illinois in 1984, opened the first Toppers in Champaign, Illinois, in 1991 and a second in Whitewater in 1993, in a closed Domino's. He made Whitewater the headquarters and began franchising in 2000, expanding into the Madison and Milwaukee markets and, in 2006, the Twin Cities. In 2010 the chain had 25 stores, about 700 employees and sales of $20.3 million; the stores stayed open until 3 or 4 a.m. and sent little green army men with their deliveries<ref name="mc-2010-02-27-toppers-gittrich">Burns, J. (2010, February 27). [https://madison.com/business/article_67993bac-2336-11df-85c6-001cc4c002e0.html "Executive Q&A: Toppers Pizza founder Scott Gittrich on pie appeal."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.		Scott Gittrich, a Domino's driver at the University of Illinois in 1984, opened the first Toppers in Champaign, Illinois, in 1991 and a second in Whitewater in 1993, in a closed Domino's. He made Whitewater the headquarters and began franchising in 2000, expanding into the Madison and Milwaukee markets and, in 2006, the Twin Cities. In January 2005 the chain announced a franchising drive — Janesville, Green Bay, Milwaukee and Racine-Kenosha — with a dozen stores, "including two in Madison — at 1368 Regent St. and 7475 Mineral Point Road"; "the Topper's brand and locations have been around for almost 15 years," Gittrich said<ref name="ct-2005-01-13-p37" />. That month the Daily Cardinal listed Topper's among the pizzerias delivering to campus<ref name="dc-2005-01-27-order-out">Ferguson, L. (2005, January 27). [https://madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_66b15c22-1b7f-5ce4-8cc6-a166839f6c61.html "When you are in doubt, order out."] ''The Daily Cardinal''.</ref>. In June 2007 a Topper's driver was punched and robbed of cash and pizza on West Dayton Street<ref name="mc-2007-06-03-toppers-driver-robbed">(2007, June 3). [https://madison.com/news/local/article_19aec190-660c-5f23-a03a-a3837c266fc3.html "Pizza man punched, robbed of cash, pizza."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; in June 2008 the Regent Street store was open until 3:30 a.m. and took three votes in a late-night survey<ref name="mc-2008-06-28-late-night-snack-shacks">Hebel, R. (2008, June 28). [https://madison.com/lifestyles/article_30eeff86-8bd4-544a-8e73-7bd60863dc6d.html "Favorite late-night snack shacks."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; and on September 28, 2009, a man held it up with a pair of scissors, apologizing to the clerk<ref name="mc-2009-09-28-toppers-scissors">(2009, September 28). [https://madison.com/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_42f0d3a9-8efc-5832-b45f-7a57825f779d.html "Man holds up Topper's Pizza with pair of scissors."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. In 2010 the chain had 25 stores, about 700 employees and sales of $20.3 million; the stores stayed open until 3 or 4 a.m. and sent little green army men with their deliveries<ref name="mc-2010-02-27-toppers-gittrich">Burns, J. (2010, February 27). [https://madison.com/business/article_67993bac-2336-11df-85c6-001cc4c002e0.html "Executive Q&A: Toppers Pizza founder Scott Gittrich on pie appeal."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.

	==Pizza==		==Pizza==
Line 8:		Line 8:

	==Locations==		==Locations==
	* 1368 Regent St. (~~open in 2013~~; the opening date has not been found).		* 1368 Regent St. (by January 2005; the opening date has not been found)<ref name="ct-2005-01-13-p37" />.

			===Former Locations===
			* 7475 Mineral Point Rd. (by January 2005)<ref name="ct-2005-01-13-p37" />.

	==See also==		==See also==

Jacques: New article from the 2010–2014 newspaper research recorded in the database

2026-10-21T17:14:12Z

New article from the 2010–2014 newspaper research recorded in the database

New page

'''Toppers Pizza''' is a late-night pizza delivery chain based in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It has had a store at 1368 Regent St. in Madison since the 2000s.

==History==
Scott Gittrich, a Domino's driver at the University of Illinois in 1984, opened the first Toppers in Champaign, Illinois, in 1991 and a second in Whitewater in 1993, in a closed Domino's. He made Whitewater the headquarters and began franchising in 2000, expanding into the Madison and Milwaukee markets and, in 2006, the Twin Cities. In 2010 the chain had 25 stores, about 700 employees and sales of $20.3 million; the stores stayed open until 3 or 4 a.m. and sent little green army men with their deliveries<ref name="mc-2010-02-27-toppers-gittrich">Burns, J. (2010, February 27). [https://madison.com/business/article_67993bac-2336-11df-85c6-001cc4c002e0.html "Executive Q&A: Toppers Pizza founder Scott Gittrich on pie appeal."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.

==Pizza==
* Topperstix, the cheesy breadsticks, and the Hangover Helper pizza were signature items in 2010<ref name="mc-2010-02-27-toppers-gittrich" />.

==Locations==
* 1368 Regent St. (open in 2013; the opening date has not been found).

==See also==
* [[Item:Q1727|Toppers Pizza in the Madison Pizza Wiki database]]

==Notes==
<references />