At the intersection of Airline and McArdle stands Panjo’s Pizza Parlor, the oldest pizzeria in town and a local landmark frozen in time. Amid a shopping center full of revolving businesses, none have been there as long as the “ye olde pizzeria.”
Hop on Google and you’ll find over 1,000 reviews singing Panjo’s praises. Customers rave about the nostalgic atmosphere, old-time piano sing-alongs and the pizza—in that order. Thousands of locals and visitors echo stories of their dads dining at Panjo’s after little league games or childhood birthday parties celebrated at the long, red-lacquered tables with Bubba the Pianist playing in the background. Patrons have shared Panjo’s with multiple generations, and unlike the surrounding changing facade, it remains faithful.
On Sept. 24, 1964, original owner Paul Fair, Mayor James Barnard, County Judge Noah Kennedy and Chamber of Commerce President Dr. McIver Furman cut the ribbon in front of the pizza parlor, where they shared the first of many slices. After a successful run, Jimmie and Christie Garrett bought the business in 1991 and have run it family-style with their eight daughters, all of whom grew up working the counter—a true family affair.
Between the vintage glass light fixtures and the original Bakers Pride oven still operating after over 50 years, Panjo’s is an institution, whether patrons prefer thin and crispy pizza or the Chicago-style Deep Dish; both have cheese and topping overload while maintaining the integrity of the crust. The secret to the crisp is in the oven—heavy ceramic slate and gas-driven—and the cornmeal dusting on the bottom to achieve the classic crunch.
The menu boasts 19 signature combinations ranging from “The Works,” the house version of a meat lover’s, to a pickle pizza that is (perhaps surprisingly) well-received by locals. Among the expanded menu of salads, sandwiches and wings to choose from, the pizza is still the main event.
The paper plates, pitchers of beer and cafeteria-style seating serve as great equalizers and encourage a communal dining experience. Minor changes have been made over the years, such as refinishing the tabletops and donating the piano to a local church after Loyse Emmitt Jacob, more affectionately known as “Bubba,” died in 2014. The wall where the piano sat now features photos from Panjo’s past and a mural reading “I love Panjo’s.”
But what does a historic restaurant mean for our community? More than the family that its profits sustain and despite generational and economic divides, dining at Panjo’s represents what so many restaurants hope to achieve: to become a common thread in the lives of their patrons and to be a familiar and friendly place to return, again and again.
1320 Airline Rd | (361) 991 – 1539