Shakey’s Pizza Parlor

EricS.

Shakeys-4guys

This Sacramento-based pizza franchise has the unusual distinction of being featured in the American Banjo Museum’s Hall of Fame.

Shakeys-trainingIn April 1954, Sherwood “Shakey” Johnson and partner Ed Plummer opened a new concept, then called Shakey’s Pizza Parlor & Ye Public House, in Sacramento, California. Johnson, a jazz enthusiast, filled his parlor with music, featuring live banjo players and player pianos (in fact, a replica of the interior of the original Shakey’s appears today in the American Banjo Museum’s Hall of Fame!). The first outpost was so successful that the owners opened another—this time in Portland, Oregon—in 1956, and by the late ’60s, the booming franchise had nearly 300 units.

However, after the late ’80s and ’90s, the franchise needed a breath of life. Excited by stats that showed a 98% brand recall for Shakey’s, The Jacmar Companies acquired the brand in 2004 and worked to re-energize its image, adding new menu items and initiating remodeling efforts. The latest Shakey’s prototype pays homage to its banjo-strumming past while offering high-tech touches: The décor incorporates nostalgic graphics alongside a digital menu system, and Shakey’s appeals to both kids and adults with game rooms for the young (and young at heart) and large flat-screen televisions for sports fans.

Shakeys-exterior

Of course, entertaining families and becoming involved with local communities has always been a cornerstone of success for the company—and that has not changed over the decades. “We’ve carved out a niche as a family fast-casual restaurant,” notes Cindy Staats, director of marketing for Shakey’s USA. “But at the end of the day, Shakey’s is an experience—a place where people gather to share good times together.” —Tracy Morin

shakeys.com


29 Comments

  1. JayReply
    May 17, 2016 at 11:53 pm

    The business was sold twice a d shakey sold his shares to Ed in the 70s

  2. Robert MadduxReply
    December 2, 2017 at 1:59 pm

    I went to Tokyo Japan in 2008, as a Sacramento Native I am familiar with Shakeys Pizza and remember the building on J Street across from CSU Sacramento where I went to college. I was surprised to see many Shakeys Pizza restaurants in Tokyo, the pizza was excellent and employees wore the round shorts brimmed straw hats with red white and blue stripes, like the old campaign style hats. I enjoyed 3 different locations in Japan and each had a poster size photo displayed of that old Shakey’s on J Street. Sad it’s gone! I don’t think Sacramento currently has any Shakey’s Pizza open…hint hint

  3. Tom WebberReply
    December 12, 2018 at 12:48 pm

    I have an original Shakey’s Pizza straw hat in perfect condition. Evertime I look at it I go back to the days of being a kid going to Shakey’s with my family. Miss that place!

  4. William KuppReply
    August 2, 2019 at 8:59 pm

    Have very fond memories of Shakey’s as a kid. It’s a travesty there aren’t any left in the Midwest, especially out in the suburbs of Chicago… like (ie) Aurora, IL where there actually was a Shakey’s location back in the 70’s/early 80’s! Shakey’s needs a revival 🙂

  5. Pizza LoverReply
    September 3, 2019 at 8:23 pm

    Shakey’s USA still going strong! More than 50 locations mostly in Southern California.

  6. SkipReply
    September 17, 2019 at 7:01 pm

    Does anyone remember if there was a shakey’s pizza location at Fulton and El Camino?

    • Erik KowalewskiReply
      November 26, 2021 at 11:12 pm

      I could have sworn there was one there!

  7. Jim BonnerReply
    May 29, 2020 at 4:32 pm

    I loved going to Shakeys Pizza in Virginia Beach! Always a good time! Wish they were still in Virginia!

  8. TINAReply
    July 28, 2020 at 6:57 pm

    so crazy questio. As I was young when our location was here. For some reason I have it stuck in my head that they had balloons shaped like people. Was it shakeys that did this?

    • KemReply
      September 14, 2020 at 10:03 pm

      Not sure Tina but I seem to have that memory too I’m really believing they at very least had balloons!

    • JulieReply
      February 21, 2021 at 8:40 pm

      Was the balloon bowling pin shaped with a thin flat piece of cardboard that looked like a pair of feet smooshed together? You’d hook the “feet” to the knot of the balloon to make it stand?

    • Isabel CovaltReply
      May 26, 2022 at 5:21 pm

      They did. The birthday person always got a bigger version of the Shakey’s balloon. They also had feet on them.

  9. JulieReply
    February 21, 2021 at 8:35 pm

    I had my 11th birthday party in 1975 at Shakey’s Pizza… and it was groovy! The staff and my 11 friends sang Happy Birthday while wearing the famous straw hats (with the rubberband on the inside.) I also received a giant ice cream sundae! Far-out man!

  10. March 20, 2021 at 9:40 am

    My Dad was member of a Shakey’s Dixieland Band in the Maryland restaurants. What fun to eat Shakey’s pizza and watch my Dad on the bandstand!

  11. MichelleReply
    June 25, 2021 at 8:41 pm

    Loved going to Shakeys Pizza as a kid in Oklahoma City, Okla. So yummy & so fun! Love the piano that played by itself! I miss Shakeys!! I’m going to visit the one in Oraville, CA ASAP!!!!❤❤❤

    • Debi LReply
      September 10, 2024 at 10:43 am

      I have that piano!! Some guy was going to throw it away, I couldn’t let that happen! A little work and it still plays!

  12. tbReply
    November 21, 2021 at 10:42 pm

    I remember the old 3 stooges movies and Batman serials from the 40’s in 16mm film! Pizza was fine!

  13. LindaReply
    February 10, 2022 at 4:36 pm

    I also Loved & remember the old 3 stooges moview & the silent charlie chaplin movies sitting on the wood benches with my mom and dad and sister eating pizza! We were coming from North Dakota as my Dad had to do a 2nd term (he was in the Air Force) in California, so we stopped there before getting to our destination. Everyone was happy to go back! Love,Love, Love the place. It felt like home. We’re all now in Rhode Island and wished we had that back again. I have that straw hat in storage somewhere! Thank you for the wonderful memoriew!

  14. Rebecca ClarkReply
    May 14, 2022 at 4:24 am

    Please please bring Shakeys back to the Tacoma, Washington area. There is one in Renton. WA. But it is too far of drive to be a regular patron. I hate conveyor belt pizza like Pizza Hut and Dominos offer. I want my true pizza oven pizza!!!

  15. Daniel B.Reply
    June 10, 2022 at 4:41 pm

    I enjoyed going to shakeys in the 70’s to hear my dad playing the piano along with Don on the banjo in Lawton, Ok. We had b’day parties, and had alway had fun(all four of kids). I still miss those days.

  16. TishaReply
    August 9, 2022 at 2:52 pm

    was there a shakey’s on clayton rd in concord ca next to clayton valley bowl? I cannot find picures of it anywhere. I could swear it was a shakey’s

  17. LisReply
    August 14, 2022 at 1:47 pm

    Were there any Shakeys in the Boston area?

  18. Douglas LeeReply
    January 20, 2023 at 3:57 pm

    Need to return to Origin. Sacramento.

  19. Ray NationsReply
    January 22, 2023 at 10:10 pm

    Loved going to the Shakey’s near Love Field in Dallas. Sitting at the long tables listening to the banjo a piano. Large pizza and a pitcher of root beer. That was a night out.

  20. BetteReply
    January 26, 2023 at 7:35 pm

    Shakey’s Northridge is my favorite Pizziaria hands down!
    This location has the best pizza and mojo’s and the fried chicken is the best fried chicken I have ever eaten!!

  21. Roger MReply
    May 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm

    Bring it back to 3622 Wheaton Way in Bremerton, WA 98310! It was the “Funnest” job I ever had and I worked for the best darn manager one could ever hope to have too. Good times, Good Food and Good Fun! Remembering the kids in the window watching me make their pizza, it was a wonderful experience!!

  22. TrippReply
    June 6, 2023 at 1:38 pm

    Grew up on Shakey’s in Chicagoland. Greatest pizza place for a kid. The entertainment value could be found nowhere else (the vintage b&w comedies – 3 Stooges, Little Rascals, et al – playing on the overhead screen, ye old heavy weight community tables & benches, the game room, the pitchers of ice cold beer & soda, the pizza makers in their pork pie hats behind the glass who “could read lips”). It was an absolute blast every single time. And Shakey’s was all about community. Celebrating after your Little League game? It was Shakey’s for sure. Kids bday party? Shakey’s. Family night out? Shakey’s Shakey’s Shakey’s Plenty of Shakey’s still exist today out here in SoCal but the exterior signage is the only remnant of the past, everything else about ye old public house is long gone. The brand has gone irrevocably down-market. Worst of all, the pizza is terrible and tastes nothing like the OG Shakey’s. So sad.

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