Louisville's History of Pizza

Wow, you guys are killing me with the old 60's talk of the HP area. I grew up across the street from the corn field on hikes ln. ( now a mega- church) No pizza at my house either. Pizza Inn and bowling at Ten Pin Lanes is one of my early "first dates" memories. Rode our bikes. Circa 1976, I was 15 and had a job washing dishes at Hennie Woo's, after delivering papers. ( CJ and the Times) I had cash for days, she was impressed!! BUT, the best pizza "ever", came from Bennie I, It was a wedding present to my new wife, and it "sustained us for 2 days".

Not that long ago, but Louisville pizza history to me definitely included the BLT pizza that was served by Pasta Pizazz circa early 90's.......currently occupied by La Bamba's. That was one delicious pie!

That place was my first employer (16 yrs old)! God, I was beginning to think that I was the only person that remembered it. I wanted to work there so bad, put in several applications and beat down their doors until they hired me. I remember the pizzas being kinda crappy (I can still remember the taste, seriously not good), but the pastas and bread sticks were good. Tortellini Ali was the best dish and the lemon-pepper chicken was always my favorite special. Also where I saw my first grub worm in the iceberg bin (those things happen - it was not because we weren't clean).

The late Pete Aarvig was the GM and he was very cool to me and all of my high school friends that subsequently worked there. I have so many memories there, and among my favorites was learning to toss sauce in a saute pan. Wonder what ever happened to the owner. We did not close the doors due to lack of support - lines trailed out the door nightly. But when we did close the doors, a raucous "finish the product" party ensued (wine and beer included - but no drink dispenser as it had already been reclaimed).

Pasquale's, when I was in college and going to UL (mid-60s) was my go-to place. It was just two blocks away. It had, as I remember, a very good thin crust.

Our family lore includes this story: Back in the early 50s, before pizza became an American staple - at least in Louisville - we went to the State Fair and heard a cry from one of the vendors, PIZ-ZA PIE, GET YOUR PIZ-ZA PIE! My Uncle Lawrence got a piece, took a bite, looked at it, and proclaimed, "There ain't no peaches on this pie!"

Two thumbs up for Uncle Lawrence. I like a manwho tells it like it is.

Wow, what a great topic! I always loved the original Rocky's in Indiana. I have fond memories of the Guy's pizza on poplar level as the "after game" go to as a kid. The same with the Godfather in Fern Creek. You gotta love those "dark" pizza places with the red candles lit on the tables and the red plastic cups. Kinda what the old Pizza Huts were like before they started sharing dining rooms with other KFC's. The Pizza's in those places were incredible as I remember. Seemed to be all about the deep dish but they were really good.

In the early '60's we got pizza at Joe'Zs( I am not sure of the spelling) at the corner of Hike's Lane and the old Bardstown Road (not the 4-lane by-pass). White Castle is there now. Then we would go over to Jerry's and meet up with friends. We came from Taylorsville and that was quite an expedition!!

Who served the 1st pizza in Louisville? Who had the best in early years?

Share some memories or a time line of the best in the past.

Calandrino's on Bardstown Road was the first pizza we ever had, and I must have been about 5. My mother introduced it to us as "a new kind of food called peet-za pie." Highland Italian (which gave way to Lentini's) and Mario's in St. Matthews were also early entries.

Wasn't the Mario's in St. Matthews on Lexington about where Lotsa Pasta is today?

[Robin Garr]

Wasn't the Mario's in St. Matthews on Lexington about where Lotsa Pasta is today?

I'm afraid I can't say for sure, Robbie. I was small then and didn't pay much attention where Mom and Dad drove us. Hey, seeing that this is your first post, though, welcome to the forum!

PIZZA KING! An Indiana tradition since 1956!

Pizza King.jpg

and Arni's too!

Wasn't the Mario's in St. Matthews on Lexington about where Lotsa Pasta is today?

No. Mario's St. Mathews was where Ratterman's Funeral Home is now. I had my first 2 "real" dates there. I'm pretty sure the Mario's building was torn down (maybe long after Mario's was gone) to build the Ratterman's building -- not more than a mile or so from the Old Sears Building (hereinafter and evermore, the "OSB").

[Robin Garr]

Wasn't the Mario's in St. Matthews on Lexington about where Lotsa Pasta is today?

No. Mario's St. Mathews was where Ratterman's Funeral Home is now. I had my first 2 "real" dates there. I'm pretty sure the Mario's building was torn down (maybe long after Mario's was gone) to build the Ratterman's building -- not more than a mile or so from the Old Sears Building (hereinafter and evermore, the "OSB").

Isn't Ratterman's two doors west of Lotsa Pasta? That's close enough to fit "about where Lotsa Pasta is today" for me.

Okay, this is driving me crazy. Long-timers: does anyone besides me remember a "Charlie's Pizza" in the Highlands in the early-to-mid-80's? If I recall correctly, and that's dicey...was it where Jack Fry's kitchen fronts onto Bardstown Road now? Or maybe it was next to the native american shop that used to be where the falafel restaurant is now on the corner of Baxter and Highland? I remember everyone who worked there had a lot of tattoos, and I remember waiting for the bus beside their sidewalk chalkboard sign advertising "Peanut Butter Pizza" (gee...I wonder what state of mind could have inspired that?). Also, it was rumored that you could go there and drink pitchers without a proper ID.

[Robin Garr]

Okay, this is driving me crazy. Long-timers: does anyone besides me remember a "Charlie's Pizza" in the Highlands in the early-to-mid-80's?

I started reviewing for The Times early in 1984, and I'm pretty sure no such place existed then or thereafter in the '80s. Could have been earlier in the decade, though!

Wasn't the Mario's in St. Matthews on Lexington about where Lotsa Pasta is today?

No. Mario's St. Mathews was where Ratterman's Funeral Home is now. I had my first 2 "real" dates there. I'm pretty sure the Mario's building was torn down (maybe long after Mario's was gone) to build the Ratterman's building -- not more than a mile or so from the Old Sears Building (hereinafter and evermore, the "OSB").

Isn't Ratterman's two doors west of Lotsa Pasta? That's close enough to fit "about where Lotsa Pasta is today" for me.

Robin, you're right. I missed the "about." However, when it comes to pizza, one can't be too precise.

To be honest, Guy's Pizza was the ONLY place that I remember freqenting as a child. There were many celebrations had at Guy's. Most Sunday's after football games at Guardian Angels you would find many families there. Resurrection and St. Ignatius folks also frequented the place. I think GE Appliance Park helped them fluorish when all of GE's buildings were in use.

If I recall, there was a Pizza Inn just a few doors down that turned into a daycare during Guy's run.

I am not sure what caused them to close, but at one time the owner's son decided to stop selling beer. Not a good idea.

Not sure how it would stack up to some of the local establishments today, but I sure would like to find out! Can I get a Guy's Special anyone?

Guys Pizza House
5057 Poplar Level Rd
Louisville, KY 40219
(502) 968-0883