Organ Stop Pizza
Pizza restaurant · Mesa ·
World's largest Wurlitzer pipe organ performs nightly with pizza
World's largest Wurlitzer pipe organ performs nightly with pizza
"Is it the best pizza ever? Probably not. But is Organ Stop Pizza one of the most memorable dining experiences around? Absolutely. This decades-old Mesa institution leans heavily on spectacle, reminiscent of Denver’s Casa Bonita or Las Vegas’s Superfrico, where the show often eclipses the meal. Around in various forms since 1972, the restaurant claims the world’s largest Wurlitzer theater organ. The pizza might remind you of a kid’s arcade slice (slightly tacky crust and all), but after a beer or two, any flaws fade into the background. For anyone craving some greenery, there’s also an old-school self-serve salad bar. Meanwhile, the wall-to-wall live organ performance — complete with dancing puppets and hundreds of moving parts straight out of a Rube Goldberg dream — offers enough distraction that you won’t dwell on any underwhelming bites. All told, it’s a nostalgic, over-the-top, and irreverent experience that’s become a true Valley legend for those seeking a one-of-a-kind night out." - McConnell Quinn
"A mixture of pizza and live entertainment is a recipe for a fun night for parents and kids at Organ Stop Pizza. This Mesa-based pizzeria features live organ music on a Wurlitzer that has 6,000 pipes. If you want to hear a specific tune, just write down your request and drop it in the organist’s box. There is also an arcade, lots of ice cream, and (of course) pizza. Parents can also enjoy tunes with a beer in hand." - Rudri Patel
"Rather than a pizza shop with an organ in it, Organ Stop Pizza is an organ show that serves pizza. Each night in Mesa, Arizona, the largest theater pipe organ ever created rises on an 8,000-pound rotating hydraulic elevator to sit 10 feet above the nearly always at-capacity 700-seat dining room, brought to roaring life by virtuoso theater organists while patrons sup on pizza, pasta, and sandwiches under disco balls and spotlights. The 276-key organ is linked to a mind-boggling series of xylophones, glockenspiels, gongs, and cymbals. Marionette cats dance in unison within a recessed “stage” perched above the behemoth instrument. Co-owner Jack Barz recalls tourists who compared their experience at Organ Stop to the one they had at the Grand Canyon the day prior. One YouTuber called it “American eccentricism at its finest.” The landmark attraction was the brainchild of the late William P. Brown, a veteran of both World War II and Wharton Business School. The real-estate developer, pizza enthusiast, and accomplished theater organist found ample time to pursue these varying interests and in fact saw no reason he couldn’t combine them. The original Organ Stop Pizza, opened in Phoenix in 1972, was such a success that it led to a second, larger franchise in Mesa three years later. Brown retired from the restaurant industry in 1984, selling the Mesa location to a longtime employee and manager, Mike Everitt, who carried Brown’s charge to continuously acquire rare parts and expand the organ—so much so that Organ Stop had to change locations in 1995 to accommodate its new dimensions. Today, 42-foot-tall ceilings accommodate balcony seating for viewing the record-holding 1927 Wurlitzer console (insured for up to $5 million). Four industrial blowers pump pressurized air through the organ’s 6,000 pipes, allowing the Pizza Stop’s 300,000 annual dinner patrons to enjoy timeless compositions such as “The Flight of the Bumblebee,” “The Hills Are Alive” from The Sound of Music, “The Circle of Life” from The Lion King, the Star Wars opening theme, and of course, “God Bless America.”" - ATLAS_OBSCURA
"Rather than a pizza shop with an organ in it, Organ Stop Pizza is an organ show that serves pizza. Each night in Mesa, Arizona, the largest theater pipe organ ever created rises on an 8,000-pound rotating hydraulic elevator to sit 10 feet above the nearly always at-capacity 700-seat dining room, brought to roaring life by virtuoso theater organists while patrons sup on pizza, pasta, and sandwiches under disco balls and spotlights. The 276-key organ is linked to a mind-boggling series of xylophones, glockenspiels, gongs, and cymbals. Marionette cats dance in unison within a recessed “stage” perched above the behemoth instrument. Co-owner Jack Barz recalls tourists who compared their experience at Organ Stop to the one they had at the Grand Canyon the day prior. One YouTuber called it “American eccentricism at its finest.” The landmark attraction was the brainchild of the late William P. Brown, a veteran of both World War II and Wharton Business School. The real-estate developer, pizza enthusiast, and accomplished theater organist found ample time to pursue these varying interests and in fact saw no reason he couldn’t combine them. The original Organ Stop Pizza, opened in Phoenix in 1972, was such a success that it led to a second, larger franchise in Mesa three years later. Brown retired from the restaurant industry in 1984, selling the Mesa location to a longtime employee and manager, Mike Everitt, who carried Brown’s charge to continuously acquire rare parts and expand the organ—so much so that Organ Stop had to change locations in 1995 to accommodate its new dimensions. Today, 42-foot-tall ceilings accommodate balcony seating for viewing the record-holding 1927 Wurlitzer console (insured for up to $5 million). Four industrial blowers pump pressurized air through the organ’s 6,000 pipes, allowing the Pizza Stop’s 300,000 annual dinner patrons to enjoy timeless compositions such as “The Flight of the Bumblebee,” “The Hills Are Alive” from The Sound of Music, “The Circle of Life” from The Lion King, the Star Wars opening theme, and of course, “God Bless America.” Know Before You Go Hours are seasonal, so check in advance. The organist begins playing 30 minutes after opening and the kitchen shuts down 30 minutes before closing time, so plan accordingly." - MagicTony, wesclark15, f failjuice, k kristenrichards21, Archie13, WhiskeyBristles, chasepopt, s sandrafrancis18, lukefater, kristenrichards21, becgueule, b becgueule, sandrafrancis18, S Schweg, w wesclark15, failjuice
A Mesa original where a Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ turns dinner into a show. Nightly performances, family-friendly energy, and vintage Valley nostalgia make this a singular stop. Longtime favorite highlighted by local media and travel writers.
