Pizza Capital of the United States?

**reddog289** · April-28-09, 01:45 AM

Where is Happys Pizza in the mix? They have been popping up everywhere in the last year. When my Mom was dating my StepDad, Dominos was my dinner for many nights, But now days I'd rather eat Hot & Ready then Dominos. Seems lately that Papa Romanos is trying to make a comeback.There are alot of Pizza chains here now I think of it.

**gumby** · April-28-09, 06:37 AM

These chains are all horrible. How is it something to be proud of, at least from a culinary standpoint?

Blah blah blah, I have more discriminating taste buds than anyone else in the world, blah blah blah. So you don't like their pizza. Nobody gives a fuck, a lot of people do which is why they are one of the largest chains in the US. That is something to be proud of. Get over yourself.

**Mackinaw** · April-28-09, 08:32 AM

There are a lot of unique things about Detroit. I don't believe its pizza market is one of them, even if there seems to be a lot of chains borne out of this area. In terms of the pizza quality itself, there are some great ones here, but, again, nothing to cause us to be a "pizza capital."
Pizza Papalis is the truth, though.

**heedus** · April-28-09, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by Mackinaw

There are a lot of unique things about Detroit. I don't believe its pizza market is one of them, even if there seems to be a lot of chains borne out of this area. In terms of the pizza quality itself, there are some great ones here, but, again, nothing to cause us to be a "pizza capital."
Pizza Papalis is the truth, though.

For me, the concentration of chains borne out of this area is unique and something that we should at least consider leveraging. I don't think it's merely a coincidence that these chains originated in metro Detroit [[and Toledo). I would wager that it has a lot to do with the rise of the middle class in this area.

I'm not envisioning some grand plan to turn the Uniroyal tire into a pizza or the rail depot into a pizza hall of fame [[thanks for those submissions, though, they definitely made me smile). What about taking 2000 sq. feet of space downtown and making a pizza museum? I would enjoy seeing some of those "Yo Noid" commercials being played while checking out some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figurines. If not a pizza museum, why not a museum dedicated toward true American cuisine? The museum wouldn't necessarily need to celebrate the quality of popular American cuisine, but it could bring back a lot of fond memories associated with popular American cuisine. On top of all the coneys, this area has some great burger joints [[Hunter House or Blimpy Burger) and Big Boy is headquartered in Warren. You may think these ideas are ridiculous but just wait until Columbus, Ohio [[home to Wendy's and White Castle) tries doing something along these lines.

**gnome** · April-28-09, 11:03 AM

Attachment 879

jl, you don't look like James Bond to me.

**ejames01** · April-28-09, 08:57 AM

Calm down fella. Dominos and Little Caesars do make crappy Pizza. If sales were what makes a food product good then the Big Mac should be considered the best hamburger in the world.

Originally Posted by gumby

Blah blah blah, I have more discriminating taste buds than anyone else in the world, blah blah blah. So you don't like their pizza. Nobody gives a fuck, a lot of people do which is why they are one of the largest chains in the US. That is something to be proud of. Get over yourself.

Retroit · April-28-09, 09:58 AM

I think the Michigan Central Station would make an excellent Pizza Hall of Fame.

**gumby** · April-28-09, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by ejames01

Calm down fella. Dominos and Little Caesars do make crappy Pizza. If sales were what makes a food product good then the Big Mac should be considered the best hamburger in the world.

My point was not that they were disgusting or not. My point is an opinion was stated as fact. Which as we know opinions are like assholes. I find Little Caesars and Dominos to be pretty good pizza. So you don't like them, no one gives a fuck.

**Jimaz** · April-28-09, 01:43 PM

Funny picture, gnome.

Don't miss the sign.

**12468_laing** · April-28-09, 03:45 PM

Nashville got it's first Jet's Pizza late last year, and I absolutely love it. Reminds me of Cal's Pizza on the east side which used to be on East Warren back in the 70-80's then moved to Harper. Anyone know if Cal's is still there?

**evelethcdenver** · April-28-09, 05:48 PM

They have recently opened about six or seven new Little Caesars here in the Denver area in the last year. Too bad the interior decor is not like the one on Warwick and Grand River used to be with the Red Wing pictures on the wall.

**ejames01** · April-29-09, 09:01 AM

It isn't an opinion. It is a proven FACT that Dominoes and Little Sleezers serve crappy food. Only a disturbed individual would even dare to claim that they are the best pies that one could buy. You could buy better pizza at a gas station.

Originally Posted by gumby

My point was not that they were disgusting or not. My point is an opinion was stated as fact. Which as we know opinions are like assholes. I find Little Caesars and Dominos to be pretty good pizza. So you don't like them, no one gives a fuck.

**FlyingJ** · April-29-09, 11:09 AM

ejames01 It isn't an opinion. It is a proven FACT that Dominoes and Little Sleezers serve crappy food. Only a disturbed individual would even dare to claim that they are the best pies that one could buy. You could buy better pizza at a gas station.

I don't think your trolling, but the funny thing is if you replace "Domino's & Little Caesar's" with "GM, Ford & Chrysler" & "food" with "cars" 90% of the board would scream for your blood, but because it's pizza, anti-Detroit bias gets a pass

**ejames01** · April-29-09, 11:43 AM

The truth is the truth. I would say the same thing if someone tried to say that a Steak dinner at Outback is better than one at Flemings or Ruth Chris.

**gumby** · May-06-09, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by ejames01

It isn't an opinion. It is a proven FACT that Dominoes and Little Sleezers serve crappy food. Only a disturbed individual would even dare to claim that they are the best pies that one could buy. You could buy better pizza at a gas station.

I guess you can't argue with stupid people.

**48217** · May-06-09, 08:08 PM

L C convention is at Motor City Casino this week.

**xphillipjrx** · May-22-09, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by Fury13

Hungry Howie's slathers butter on their pizza crusts, for god's sake. I mean, butter, not olive oil... Jeezus! Nauseating. Sorry, I believe there's a right way and a wrong way to do things... I hope they go bust.

Howie's puts butter on the crust IF YOU ORDER BUTTER OR BUTTER/PARMESAN CRUST. It's not standard procedure to put butter on the crust. I first started eating Howie's when I was a kid and the family across the street would buy them. I grew up in Southfield and the closest Howie's for years was the one in Redford next to Cheryl's School of Dance. The girls across the street took tap lessons and their parents would pick up a pizza before coming home. We starting getting Howie's once my sister took lessons at Cheryl's.

I worked at Caesars for seven years during high school and college. I worked at Pizza Station #1 on Telegraph S of 10 mile. Mike and Marion Illitch would come in for dinner on Sundays. That restaurant was one of the first places Petr Klima went when he first got here. I also worked at the Caesars on South U in Ann Arbor during college. Debbie Schlussel worked there the summer of 1988.

Originally Posted by reddog289

Where is Happys Pizza in the mix?

I live in Chicago and there is a Happy's [[63rd & Damen) that opened last week Tuesday. They said they plan to open 20 locations in Chicago. I've been waiting for a good Sicilian pizza place to come to Chicago. BTW there is a Hungry Howie's in Schererville, IN.

**reddog289** · May-23-09, 12:27 AM

Stopped in on this thread and low and behold Happys is in Chicago now. I wasn't sure and still am not quite sure that Happy's is based in Detroit. But I see in the 313 phone book Happys #1 is on E7 mi. I like their pizza. Kudos to Little Ceasars for 50yrs, Just wish that in the next 50, they would maybe start tasting like they did in their first 15.

**xphillipjrx** · May-26-09, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by reddog289

Just wish that in the next 50, they would maybe start tasting like they did in their first 15.

I think Caesars and Dominos are cutting corners on their crust. It used to be made every morning in the store, but I went in a Dominos and I saw a clear bag full of ready-made crusts. Seems like the toppings are melted on the crust as opposed to the crust getting baked. I haven't had a $5 Caesars pizza to confirm, but it wouldn't surprise me if they do the same thing. I know they do this at Chucky Cheese. CC used to have decent pizza and now it tastes like crap.

Any pizza employees on DetroitYES?

**Johnlodge** · May-26-09, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by xphillipjrx

I think Caesars and Dominos are cutting corners on their crust. It used to be made every morning in the store, but I went in a Dominos and I saw a clear bag full of ready-made crusts. Seems like the toppings are melted on the crust as opposed to the crust getting baked. I haven't had a $5 Caesars pizza to confirm, but it wouldn't surprise me if they do the same thing. I know they do this at Chucky Cheese. CC used to have decent pizza and now it tastes like crap.

Any pizza employees on DetroitYES?

I worked at Domino's in the late 90's, and they did not make their own dough in the store. Domino's had a philosophy that dough needed to proof for a certain amount of time, so making dough fresh every day was actually not good. Even once it arrived, we couldn't use it until it met its proof date. The dough was made and came from the commissary in Ann Arbor as dough balls in plastic trays. We would use the dough and the next time the truck came the driver would pick up the trays. Personally I don't like the stuff so I say they're probably full of it, but I'm no dough expert.

The "deep dish" dough they had when I was there came as pre-formed shells in a cardboard box, and it was made for Domino's pizza by Pillsbury. The thin crust doughs were also pre formed in a box from Pillsbury, kind of a matzo bread looking thing. These are what you probably saw in the plastic bags.

**ghettopalmetto** · May-26-09, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by Johnlodge

I worked at Domino's in the late 90's, and they did not make their own dough in the store. Domino's had a philosophy that dough needed to proof for a certain amount of time, so making dough fresh every day was actually not good. Even once it arrived, we couldn't use it until it met its proof date. The dough was made and came from the commissary in Ann Arbor as dough balls in plastic trays. We would use the dough and the next time the truck came the driver would pick up the trays. Personally I don't like the stuff so I say they're probably full of it, but I'm no dough expert.

The "deep dish" dough they had when I was there came as pre-formed shells in a cardboard box, and it was made for Domino's pizza by Pillsbury. The thin crust doughs were also pre formed in a box from Pillsbury, kind of a matzo bread looking thing. These are what you probably saw in the plastic bags.

Yum. Bought-in pizza dough. It just screams "quality".

**rb336** · May-26-09, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by Johnlodge

I worked at Domino's in the late 90's, and they did not make their own dough in the store. Domino's had a philosophy that dough needed to proof for a certain amount of time, so making dough fresh every day was actually not good.

Dough does need to proof, but geez, make it in the morning and it's usually good for lunch [[worked at Papa Romano's while in college) after a day, it started to smell like beer

**Johnlodge** · May-26-09, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by rb336

Dough does need to proof, but geez, make it in the morning and it's usually good for lunch [[worked at Papa Romano's while in college) after a day, it started to smell like beer

I dunno. Probably explains why it tastes like cardboard.

The best thing I ever had at Domino's was probably those Chicken Kickers. Now I see those commercials with the pasta in the middle of some pizza dough which is just inexplicable.