Who remembers Mario's Pizza?

[Robin Garr]

Marios-pizza.jpg

I just saw this on a Louisville History group on Facebook, and it brought back the old days. Well, 1977.

So, who remembers Mario's? As a Highlands kid, I was loyal to Calandrino's and Lentini's (or its predecessor, Highland Italian). I knew there was a Mario's in St. Matthews, but had no idea that there were 20 branches. According to this there were a couple in the Highlands, even, but I sure don't remember them.

Candlelight AND Music, no less! I remember Mario's but not so many locations. I thought there was one on Klondike Lane at some point. Google Maps tells me the addresses of the Highlands locations you mention were at the current locations of Wild Ginger across Duker from The Uptown Cafe and on Bardstown Rd in the space between Jack Fry's and the Falafel House (isn't that Jack Fry's kitchen now?). A blast from the past - thanks!

Bardstown Rd in the space between Jack Fry's and the Falafel House (isn't that Jack Fry's kitchen now?). A blast from the past - thanks!

That space is Jack Fry's kitchen now. I remember it as a pizza place.

Marios-pizza.jpg

I just saw this on a Louisville History group on Facebook, and it brought back the old days. Well, 1977.

So, who remembers Mario's? As a Highlands kid, I was loyal to Calandrino's and Lentini's (or its predecessor, Highland Italian). I knew there was a Mario's in St. Matthews, but had no idea that there were 20 branches. According to this there were a couple in the Highlands, even, but I sure don't remember them.

Sonny Lentini was a manager at the Marios in St Matthews.

I was a "cook" when I was 15 at a Mario's in Bowling Green. Assume the name is pretty typical for every city...

I remember the one in Buchel near the railroad tracks. We were there at least two or three times a month as teens.

My very first car date the day after I got my driver's license in 1966 was to Mario's in St. Mathews. Ordered an anchovy pizza to share because, well, I'd heard about anchovy pizzas on TV. But had no idea what an anchovy was. Or what one tasted like. WHOA . . what an eye opener!. Went there for second date, too. And got anchovy pizza again, just to show to show it wasn't a mistake the first time.

My local "go to" was Marios at Hikes Point.

And I must be older than you, Robin, because I was going in the late 60's.

The space next door to Jack Fry's was Charlie's Pizzeria, home of the peanut butter pizza and some great local punk shows in the early 80's. Was it a Mario's before it was Charlie's?

The Marios in the highlands where it currently is Jack Fry's kitchen, was originally owned by Steve and Linda, and was there before 1965, it went out of business in early 1980s and was sold to an elderly man named Charlie. Charlie's was the home of the peanut butter pizza, but trust me, it wasn't that good. In hopes of increasing business, Charlie allowed punk rock bands to perform and many savory characters came. This upset Jack Fry's business clientele, which were upper class. So they did what any rich people do to solve their problem..They bought out Charlie and expanded their kitchen. If I ever win the lottery, I'm fully taking it back and making it Marios again.

[Robin Garr]

If I ever win the lottery, I'm fully taking it back and making it Marios again.

I'll definitely buy a pizza if you do!

After the Highland store closed and before Jack Fry's wasn't that the same space as Por Que No?

[Robin Garr]

After the Highland store closed and before Jack Fry's wasn't that the same space as Por Que No?

I'm going to guess not, because the original Jack Fry's - a neighborhood bar where kids could buy beer out the back door and where one could easily put down a bet - was around in that location for decades before closing briefly, giving way to Por Que No and then the fancier restaurant that carried on the old name. (No, I'm not - quite - old enough to remember all this.)

After the Highland store closed and before Jack Fry's wasn't that the same space as Por Que No?

I'm going to guess not, because the original Jack Fry's - a neighborhood bar where kids could buy beer out the back door and where one could easily put down a bet - was around in that location for decades before closing briefly, giving way to Por Que No and then the fancier restaurant that carried on the old name. (No, I'm not - quite - old enough to remember all this.)

I am...... :

[Robin Garr]

I am...... :

Hey! I am almost as aged as you are ... but I thought the original Jack Fry's bar closed in the '50s?