Toppers Pizza on News 19 WXOW

Toppers Pizza on News 19 WXOW

Denise Downing, owner of Toppers in Onalaska and La Crosse, Wisconsin was recently featured on News 19 WXOW. The segment highlighted Denise Downing and Toppers team member Abby Klaas.  The segment mentioned how Abby just celebrated her 10 year anniversary with Toppers and is the head dough maker for the Onalaska location.  

You can view the full segment here. 

Toppers is "Pizza with Attitude"

An article in the Park Bugle features Toppers franchisees Brad Vinton and Dan Ogiba who discuss their history with Toppers and their new opening in Falcon Heights. The article goes on to describe Toppers unique flavor profiles and distinct pizza toppings such mac 'n' cheese and tater tots.

Pizza with attitude comes to Falcon Heights
By: Roger Bergerson

There’s a new local outlet of a pizza chain that describes itself as irreverent and eclectic, offering pizza toppings like mac ’n’ cheese and tater tots, chocolate-bacon cheesy bread sticks and chipotle pepper-ranch dipping sauce.

Toppers Pizza recently opened its pick-up and delivery service at 1539 Larpenteur Ave., just east of Snelling Avenue in Falcon Heights. It’s the second such store operated by former Hamline University roommates Brad Vinton and Dan Ogiba, the other being on Grand Avenue in St. Paul.

Although the Toppers chain, which operates more than 50 restaurants in 10 states, focuses on 18-to-34-year-olds, Vinton says the Grand Avenue store has been successful with all demographic groups.

“What distinguishes us from the competition are our unique toppings, signature Topperstix and wide range of dipping sauces,” said Vinton, “as well as our exemplary customer service.”

(Read More) 

Pizza increasingly plentiful near IUPUI

The IndyStar featured Toppers in an article discussing new pizza locations opening near IUPUI. The  intersection of 10th Street and Indiana Avenue is now a hot place for pizza, and how is home to many top-name pizza brands such as Pizza Hut, Papa John's Marco's, Donatos, and now Toppers. 

Pizza increasingly plentiful near IUPUI

By: David Lindquist

College students and pizza never should be estranged, and new restaurants near the intersection of 10th Street and Indiana Avenue are keeping IUPUI attendees in close contact to pie. Blaze Pizza and Toppers Pizza have joined a party that includes established brands Pizza Hut, Papa John's, Donatos and Marco's. Blaze -- a neighbor to Pizza Hut, Papa John's, Donatos and Marco's in Lockefield Commons -- will celebrate its opening by giving away free pizzas on Tuesday, Feb. 11, and Wednesday, Feb. 12.

               Blaze Pizza

913 Indiana Ave., BlazePizza.com, 1013indianapolis@blazepizza.com.

To qualify for a free 11-inch pizza, "like" the Blaze Pizza Facebook page. At the restaurant, you'll be asked to show a mobile-device screenshot of your "like" (or a hardcopy printout will suffice). The offer runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day. Founded in Southern California in 2012, Blaze restaurants specialize in pizzas that cook for less than two minutes at 800 degrees. Customers select toppings in assembly-line fashion

Toppers Pizza

910 West 10th St., Suite 12, Toppers.com, (317) 672-7777.

This restaurant that opened last month in The Avenue building is the first Indianapolis location for Toppers, a company founded in Champaign, Ill., in 1991. The Toppers menu isn't limited to pizza, as the accompanying image of "Chocolate Baconstix" proves. Other innovations in Toppers history include pizzas accented by tater tots and macaroni noodles (but not on the same pie). The Indianapolis Toppers follows a Carmel store, 12545 N. Meridian St.

(Read More)

Toppers Spotlighted in Entrepreneur Magazine

Entrepreneur magazine featured a Q&A interview with popular Toppers franchisees, Phil and Denise Downing in their "Franchise Players" column, which spotlights different franchisees. The Downings discuss their history with Toppers, which is where they met while working as delivery drivers. The pair then worked their way up and now run four stores in Wisconsin and Minnesota as successful franchisees. They discuss tips one how to balance business and marriage. 

Franchise Players: How This Pizza Chain Power Couple Balances Business and Romance

By: Kate Taylor 

Name: Phil and Denise Downing

Franchises owned (location):  Toppers in LaCrosse, Wisc., Onalaska, Wisc.,  Mankato, Minn., and Winona, Minn.

How long have you owned the franchise? 

We opened our first location in LaCrosse, Wisc., in February 2002.

Why franchising?   

We both worked for corporate stores and saw their success. We had an opportunity to franchise and start as one of the first franchisees at Toppers and we went for it.  

What were you doing before you became a franchise owner?  

Phil started with Toppers in Stevens Point, Wisc., as a delivery driver in 1997. I [Denise] started with Toppers as a delivery driver in Whitewater Wis. in 1996. In 1999, we met because Phil got transferred to be the assistant manager of the Whitewater location while I was working there. We both worked our way up in the company. Just before Toppers began franchising, Phil was a general manager of the Madison Wis. store and I was doing local store marketing for the three corporate locations. 

(Read More)