‘A couple of waitresses reopened a legend’

Sue Grossardt

Contributor

July 1, 2024

GREEN BAY – Ronald Jacobson – most commonly known as Jake – opened Jake’s Pizza on Main Street in Green Bay 50 years ago. 

Though there have been a few twists and turns along the way – including a brief closure and a relocation – Owners Brook and Cara Sanders said one thing has always remained the same: The pizza recipe.

“The recipe for the pizza originally came from a restaurant called The Shamrock in Superior, Wisconsin, which still exists today,” Cara said. “Jake worked there in high school, and after serving in the U.S. Army, they sent him out on his way with the shared recipe and said, (per the agreement) ‘go do your own thing’ as long as (he went) far enough away.”

That landed him in Titletown – one of five cities he considered as far enough away.

Jake owned Jake’s Pizza from 1974 to 2007.

Cara said an interim owner ran things until 2012 before closing up shop.

The Sanders sisters reopened the pizza joint – this time at 112 S. Broadway St. – in 2014.

Seemed like a great idea

Though both sisters had experience in the restaurant industry, neither said they were necessarily thinking about leaping into restaurant ownership until a customer made the suggestion.

Cara said they were waitressing at á’Bravo Bistro & Wine Bar on Green Bay’s east side at the time.

“One of the customers, who is no longer with us, put the idea in our head to reopen Jake’s Pizza,” she said. “I believe he read a newspaper article and saw the business was for sale.” 

Like many new ideas – especially ones that involved a major decision like this – Cara said, “we had to let it settle in.”

“We thought nothing of it for a while,” she said. “Months later, we talked about it again and said, ‘let’s do it.’ We were a couple of waitresses reopening a legend.”

With the weight of carrying a legacy on their shoulders, Cara said it was important to them to make sure they did it right.

The first step was finding a new location, which led the sisters to the other side of the Fox River.

The building on South Broadway – which Cara said previously housed Kavarna, a Thai restaurant and a handful of other food establishments – dates to 1883, historic, but was also in need of renovations.

The sister duo said they rolled up their sleeves and got to work getting things ready for business.

Cara said the 15-foot ceilings and vintage tiles are a reminder of the building’s history.

Supportive founder

The Sanders sisters said Jake was involved in the process and even worked with them for eight years after they took ownership.

“We had him come down and look at (the building) – he liked it,” she said. “He sat up in the window at the front of the restaurant during the summer while Brook and I (completed the renovations). He watched the foot and vehicle traffic go by on Broadway – agreeing the new location would work.”

Cara said Jake was a great mentor – “he taught us everything and made dough every day.” 

“Jake worked in the kitchen,” she said. “(Eventually), my husband, Brice, took over all of Jake’s duties. Brice does all the scratch preparation every day. We make everything in-house, including our dough, sauces, corned beef and sausages.”

Cara said many family members also work in the business.

In addition to the recipes, Brook said many of the traditions associated with Jake’s Pizza have been maintained – including naming rights on menu items.

“We have menu items named by former employees who would make them for themselves like ‘Tracy Bread’ and ‘Timmeh Bread’ – which is a cheesy bread with banana peppers and bacon,” she said.

Cara said Jake’s offers 9- and 14-inch pies – ranging from standard cheese, sausage and pepperoni to scampi, reuben and BBQ chicken – and everything in between.

Jake’s Pizza is open 4-9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday – offering dine-in or carry-out options.

Frozen pizzas are also available.

And like many other aspects of Jake’s Pizza that have remained consistent, Cara said the well-known, 45-minute wait time has as well.

Pizzas, she said, can take 45 minutes to prepare and bake – depending on factors like oven capacity and special ingredients like fresh mushrooms. 

Cara said it’s important to “never rush the process.”

“The process is what gives Jake’s its unique crust and flavor profile, and we have no intention of sacrificing any of these,” she said.

The establishment recently held a 50th-anniversary celebration that welcomed an overflowing crowd of supporters.

Cara said Jake made the trip from Superior for the extravaganza – spending much of the day greeting and reminiscing with original customers and meeting new ones.

For more information on Jake’s Pizza, visit jakespizzagb.com or check out its Facebook page.