KYN: Coop’s Pizza Welcomes in Both Local and Global Regulars

HAYWARD, Wis. — Coop’s Pizza, down the road from Main Street is known to be a Hayward staple.

The restaurant unsurprisingly specializes in pizza, alongside many other things.

“So, pizza is our main thing. But then we have pasta and burgers and subs. A great salad bar. Appetizers, if you name it, we probably got it,” said Lora Hills, the General Manager at Coop’s Pizza.

Alongside pizza, they’re also serving up that small town connection.

“It’s very important for people to have a place that, when they walk in, we can look at them and say, ‘Are you having your usual today?’ We know what they want to drink we know what they want to eat and that makes them feel good,” said Hills.

In addition, that feeling of family on the menu isn’t only exclusive to the customers.

“There were new owners that bought two years ago. Deb bought it with her daughter Sam. And Deb was a manager here for over 30 years before she bought it. And Sam waitressed here when she was in high school and college,” said Hills.

The city of Hayward hosts the iconic Birkebeiner every winter.

Thousands of people from all over the globe find themselves in the small Wisconsin town for the ski race, and they too get to experience what it means to be involved in the cozy atmosphere.

“There are several people I have met from different countries that come here every year. And when they walk in, they, their face just lights up. And it’s great, because they remember you from year to year,” said Hills.

Thanks to the support of the customers, Coop’s was able to conquer the hardships of the COVID pandemic, one slice at a time.

“It was really great that we were one of the ones to actually thrive through COVID. And we survived because we were able to take our takeout business, it’s always been great. And now it’s amazing. And we’ve taken our frozen pizza business and expanded on that. We have done so much to make it bigger and better. But still make it homey and small town, which we are,” beamed Hills.

Coop’s Pizza is looking forward to keeping up with the customers and making anyone who walks through those doors feel right at home.