Wisconsin State Journal
Nestled into a dark, quaint spot on the 500 block of State Street, Gino Gargano works seven days a week, plying his trade in the restaurant that bears his name: Gino's Bar & Italian Restaurant. Also a Sicilian, he and his brothers were coaxed to Madison by their uncle Carlo Caputo, who started a grocery store in the 600 block of State. The three brothers went on to open restaurants in Madison - Gino's, Bellini Restaurant and Gargano's - and play an important role in Madison's pizza revolution.
This year, Gino Gargano is celebrating 45 years in business - and 45 years of selling "his famous stuffed pizza" to the local pizza-eating public. Gargano was the first offer this pizza specialty, which hails from his native country, and it's been a long-time favorite.
"We've been doing this for 45 years," says Gargano. "The customers, they love it."
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Wisconsin State Journal
As the temperature drops and the winds of winter pick up, the best place for State Street patrons to escape the chill may be a spot that has warmed customers for four decades.
Gino's Restaurant, 540 State St., offers a warm welcome the minute one steps through the door. Its Italian charm provides a haven from the sometimes nippy Wisconsin weather.
The dining room at Gino's is lit by warm red lights and glowing candles. Booths -- each set off by a woven, wooden archway -- line the walls. Customers can also dine upstairs or have a drink at the bar in the front.
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Gino Gargano was 21 when he came to the United States from his native Sicily in 1962. The following year, he became a Madison restaurateur with the opening of Gino's on State Street.
"A lot of my recipes are from my father, who was a better chef than my mother," he quips.With the serving of his first stuffed pizza 40 years ago - on July 5, 1963 - Gargano couldn't imagine the impact his business would have in the lives of generations of students at the University of Wisconsin.
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