News
Celebrating 30 years at Denny's Pizza Inn
Scott Wagar
10/02/2012
This Thursday Denny’s Pizza Inn will be celebrating 30 years under the ownership of Greg and Carol Bullinger.
The Bullingers aquired Denny’s Pizza Inn on Oct. 1, 1982, after Greg decided to leave the CPA firm he established in Bottineau in the early 80s.
“I didn’t like sitting behind a desk, which bothered me,” Greg said. “So, I purchased the Pizza Inn because I was looking for a new business challenge and I enjoy getting up and moving around and meeting people.”
PIZZA
In 30 years, the Pizza Inn has seen changes in expanding with growth and different menu items, but one item has always stayed the same, its pizza.
“The way we make our pizzas has always been made the same way, with the exception of our pan pizza,” Greg said. “We added pan pizza in the 80s because there was a demand for it. So, Rod Schmidt, who had the Pizza Inn in Rugby, we came together and created a pan dish recipe and started using that. Everything else has always stayed the same. Nothing else has ever changed in how we make our pizzas.”
DESTINATION
The Pizza Inn has been a predominate business because of its pizza, and it is known far and wide as the place to go in the county for pizza and other food items.
“We have become a destination place,” said Sharon Jansen, who has worked as a waitress for Greg and Carol since 1984. “People have told me that they work us into their plans if they are going to be in the area because they have been here before. Local kids who grew up here, and go away to college, they always have to stop here and have pizza when they are home.
“And, we are known throughout North Dakota because of our pizza and other food items. Teams who have played here, business people, organizations, people on vacation, they always come back here when they are in town.”
HISTORY
Denny’s Pizza Inn was originally started in downtown Bottineau by the late Dennis Kittleson in the former Family Crisis Center. The business was purchased by Ivan Brekke who moved the business to Highway 5 and constructed a new building which is the Pizza Inn today. Brekke turned the business back over to Kittleson and the Bullingers purchased it in ‘82.
For Greg and Carol these last 30 years, the Pizza Inn has been a good business venture for them.
“We’ve always enjoyed the business for the same reason we started it, because we like to meet and be around people,” Greg said.
CELEBRATION
On Thursday (Oct. 4), the Pizza Inn will be having a party from 2-4 p.m. in celebration of Greg and Carol’s 30th anniversary. The party is open to the general public and the Pizza Inn will be serving cake and refreshments.