Pizza King (Appleton, Wisconsin)
Pizza King is a local chain of pizzeria restaurants in Appleton, Wisconsin. Founded in 1976 and operated by the Sosnowski family throughout its existence, the business has two locations in Appleton as of June 2020. The original location closed at the end of 2019, and a fourth location in Greenville briefly operated from 2009 to 2015. In addition to pizza, the restaurant chain serves submarine sandwiches, salads, and wraps.
1326 North Meade Street and 800 East Wisconsin Avenue
In late May 1976, a Deli King restaurant opened at 1326 North Meade Street in Appleton, the company's third location in Wisconsin. Managed by 20-year-old Dean Sosnowski, the restaurant served a variety of delicatessen items, as well as "Pizza King" pizza.[1][2] The Deli King chain was short-lived, and Sosnowski began operating the restaurant independently, with a greater focus on pizza, renaming it Pizza King.
On August 13, 2003, the restaurant moved into a neighboring building, a former Express Convenience Center store at 800 East Wisconsin Avenue. The new, larger building allowed the restaurant to increase its seating and add a conference room.[3] The restaurant was long a popular lunch break spot for employees at the nearby Appleton Papers facility. The restaurant closed on December 31, 2019, with Dean and Paula Sosnowski's retirement from the business.[4]
Calumet Village
The chain's second location opened in June 1987, one of the original tenants of the Calumet Village shopping center at 1717 East Calumet Avenue.[5]
1003 West Northland Avenue
The chain's third location opened in March 1990 at 1003 West Northland Avenue.[6]
Greenville Junction
The chain's fourth location and first outside of Appleton opened in 2009 in the Greenville Junction shopping center, at N1788 Lily of the Valley Drive in Greenville, Wisconsin. Pizza King filled the space vacated by another pizza restaurant, Fox's Pizza Den.[7] The location was successful, but closed in May 2015 after owner Dean Sosnowski decided to "concentrate on Appleton" and "slow down" after turning 60.[8]
References
- ↑ "Deli King opens", Appleton Post-Crescent, June 20, 1976, page B-6.
- ↑ "Our History", pizzakingappleton.com
- ↑ "The Buzz: New clothing store aims for streets", Appleton Post-Crescent, August 14, 2003, page D-7.
- ↑ "The Buzz: 2019: Goodbye to more stores", Appleton Post-Crescent, January 5, 2020, page B-1.
- ↑ Advertisement, Appleton Post-Crescent, June 18, 1987, page B-9.
- ↑ Advertisement, Appleton Post-Crescent, March 12, 1990, page B-5.
- ↑ Wallenfang, Maureen. "Greenville's bulk food store continues to grow", Appleton Post-Crescent West, Business page 6.
- ↑ Wallenfang, Maureen. "The Buzz: What happened to Greenville's Pizza King?", Appleton Post-Crescent, June 3, 2015.