I am an unashamed fan of the wonderful dish known as pizza. Growing up in Warner Robins in the 80's, we had a lot of fast food pizzerias to choose from. Although I get my pizza fixes these days at places like Osteria 832, Everybody's, and Mellow Mushroom (and soon to be: Fritti and Piebar), I still get a twinge for one of the following chains, most of which stood a bicycle ride away:
- Mazzio's: I thought this chain was completely gone from Georgia, but it seems two remain: Winder and Columbus.
- Shakey's: I can't beleive the old store is still open. As it turns out, it's one of three surviving franchises east of the Mississippi. The other two are in Wisconsin, making the WR store the only Shakey's in Sweet Tea Territory.
- Little Caesar's: I knew these guys didn't leave completely, but they seem to have made a recent comeback in recent years. There are several stores around Atlanta; one of those square pizzas is in my future.
- Pizza Inn: This chain is on the list, not only for the WR store that hosted several hoots, but the Statesboro store made that town survivable, by way of one-meal-a-day buffet. The latter store is still around, along with several others in the low country and neighboring states. Covington currently hosts the only nearby location.
- Bertucci's: This chain holds a special place in my heart, for folding its Georgia operations. Two weeks prior to the closure, I signed a lease down the street from one of their stores, with full intent of walking to that store for dinner for the next year. It was several years before I patronized the sushi joint that set up afterwards. Today, Virginia is as close as those wonderful pizzas get.
I'll have to go visit the in-state locations at various times during this year. |
