This is the saddest Tucson food news I’ve ever announced, but the world must know: Zachary’s Pizza at 1028 E. Sixth St. is closing at the end of the month. An employee verified the closure when I called to check what I hoped was just a rumor.
I once took a man with a fatal disease to Zachary’s. His illness had left him with no appetite, yet he ate almost two of the place’s enormous slices. The pizza is that good. I’ve spent anniversaries there, made long-time friends there and consumed my body weight many times over in beer and pizza there over the years.
It’s sad when just about any restaurant closes – even if the food leaves something to be desired, restaurant people work hard, long hours to feed us – but this one really stings. Thanks for all the great times Zachary’s, and I’ll be seeing you a lot over the next three weeks.
This article appears in Jul 5-11, 2012.
Why is it closing?
its closeing because Girmaldis is down the street and is 100% better thats why
Probably the same reason they moved across the street in the first place. UofA expansion to the south side of 6th. That coupled with a slow economy means no cash to relocate again.. sad day indeed…
Their pizza is good, but I always found their service to be terrible.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!
The terrible service is part of the charm!
That really is a shame. Great pizza and great beer. Also, the strangest place I ever worked, hands down.
Grimaldi’s better than Zachary’s? No way. Zachary’s is legendary, and will be missed.
Their beer is some of the worst on tap in Tucson (aside from Borderlands).
I live in Scottsdale and drove to Tucson, a two hour drive, just for Zachary’s, a few times. 🙁
Good or bad, Zachary’s was a legend. A friend of mine introduced me to the place years ago. Since then, I have long loved it. They have a craft with their pizza, something not all places attain.
They will be missed. I hope the owners will continue their work elsewhere at some point. Pizza that good can’t stay down forever!
during the summer their swamp cooler made the place smell like a bunch of sweaty hamsters
It was a fun place to go. It had a certain vibe which was great.
If you actually like REAL beer, Zachary’s had great stuff. But if you’re a Bud Light bozo, then you won’t like it– agreed.
So sad to see this place go! I hope they are able to reopen somewhere else. Also, it’s refreshing that they actually announced that they will be closing instead of just closing the doors and not telling anyone (including employees). So many now defunct restaurants have been very sneaky-sneaky-sleazy closing doors and not warning their patrons and employees.
There is a lot of history for that place. Very Sad indeed. When the UofA expanded south, they forced Zacks to move into their current location which the UofA also owns. A long time ago a UofA chemist created a beer recipe just for them called the old bumler and the story goes that Nimbus was contracted to produce the beer for them. Well Nimbus was sold and along went that recipe. The story goes that Nimbus’ Monkey Shine Beer is actually the recipe for Zack’s old bumler. Whether the story is true or not I have not verified but would make a pretty interesting story. Maybe the Weekly could help Zack’s go out with a bang and use some little investigative journalism to get to the bottom of this. Maybe that way, Zack’s could possibly rise again, for if the story is true then maybe some royalties could be do. Either way, they will be missed by many alumni and long lost friends.
The person that made the comments regarding Grimaldi’s being down the street, and having better pizza… Sometimes you cannot compare things. Grimaldi’s and Zachary’s pizza’s are completely different styles, each delish, but not to be compared. Der. Sorry to see a local business for so long have to say goodbye.
This must have been what the Mayans were talking about when they said that 2012 was the end times.
22 days and counting..asta-la-vista zacary’s..try zendeaha’s,rosatia,,or got to jetts wildcat exxon and get a frozen totonno’s..same thing just cheaper:)just like greasy tonys had to close so does zach’s,but hey there still frog n firkin and the legendary no anchovies or hit the pizza joint behind jackinthebox.or skip it all and go to lucky chineese for the buffet
If you’ve never yet experienced the death of a good friend……well, this is like the death of a good friend……….there are no words for everybody’s loss…………
I used to go to Zachary’s with the Madrigal Choir at the old location and then also when it moved to its present home. They made a ‘specialty’ pizza just for us and it was DELICIOUS! I’ve been back a number of times and the pizza has always been great, the beer wonderful and the people friendly. I’ve recommended Zachary’s to so many people and I hope they rise again in the very near future – real beer, to-die-for-pizza and lousy service intact!
Places downtown are dropping like flies. I predict V Fine Thai next.
I feel the need to share that I’ve had every going away party, every coming home party, and every birthday party at Zachary’s since I was about 10 years old and moved to Tucson. I seriously feel like a part of me will die when this place shuts its doors. If there is any possible way to do it, please save Zachary’s Tucson.
This must mean the end of physics at the U of A. UA Physics ran on Zachary’s.
The Physis department Liquid State seminar will never be the same again :(. Shame I now live back in the UK, or I’d come in for one last fantastic bit of Zachary’s pizza pie!
Ahem, *Physics
This is sad. I like both Grimaldi’s and Zachary’s. I thought Zachary’s types of deep dish pies and topping variety were unique, creative and very tasty. Grimaldi’s also good when you need the thin Brooklyn crust. I have room, tolerance, and desire in my stomach and taste buds to have both joints in town. It is sad to see a unique locally owned business that helps define the identity of a city or neighborhood, close it’s doors.
God Bless the Old Pueblo & Zach’s pizza!!! Sad news indeed.
Say its not so!! Zachary’s was one of the reasons why my family and I would look forward to visiting family in Tucson. Hopefully they’ll find another great location and open up soon.
A manager at the restaurant dropped me a line today saying the reason for the closure is financial. She also said last night was one of the busiest nights she’s worked at the restaurant since she started there 11 years ago and thanks everyone for their support.
Maybe we who love Zachary’s can convince the owners to continue operating with the addition of a “pizza of the month club.” Of course, my “pizza of the month” would always be an extra-thick crust T-Rex with extra cheese and garlic. But I’d pay extra for the shipping…to the LBC where I’ve continued to love Zachary’s for the last 22 years…
I literally got my first and only speeding ticket on my way to Zach’s to pick up a pizza to go, get this: on valentines day. When I signed up for the traffic class, the person signing me up thought it was the best story they’d heard, LOVED Zach’s pizza… Saw my favorite team win the Stanley Cup with friends there, … the place is a gem, and will be missed.
I met husband at the old Zachary’s in March of 1996. If there’s a way to save this unique and wonderful Tucson icon, it’s gotta happen. Can’t think of a Tucson without Zachary’s. 🙁
I love Zachary’s pizza, always have…but, the service was always horrendous. I can honestly say that I passed on going there for lunch many times because of that. And today confirmed it. A coworker of mine and I went to get a slice for lunch at 11:30 (only about 6 tables with people at them). Well we waited, and waited, and waited (15 mintues) for the waitress to stop by the table. Looked around and noticed 3 other tables who were there longer than us, still hadn’t even gotten any service yet. Decided to give her a couple more minutes, watched two table just get up and leave, and then we also left. The waitress finally acknowledges that we were there as we’re leaving and says “thanks guys!”. For what? I think she actually thought she served us. And this is why they’re closing. Are financial reasons the reason for closing? Absolutely. But when you get customers get up and just leave explains it all. Sorry everyone, I’ll miss Z’s but, come on, the writing was on the wall.
RE: dw – Grimaldi’s is flavorless chain pizza that comes NO WHERE NEAR Zach’s and is no competition for Zach’s original recipe which is craved by people all over the world.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Well, what to say about Zach’s. The one waitress who looks like Susan Dey (Lori Partridge) was my heart-throb. But, they ultimately ran out of anchovies (and No Anchovies has NONE!). The service was interesting – the whole place was interesting – but the pizza was tops, as were the beers. Who doesn’t think so, has no taste. Zach’s will be missed.
Z’s is a Tucson icon. It embodied everything we liked about Tucson when we first visited years ago. It’s quirky, ultra-friendly and just overall the best that we’ve found anywhere. Surely a way can be found to bridge Z’s through August until school is back in? Any white knights out there …. Mr. Click? Ms. Weaver? Meanwhile, let’s sacrifice for the good of the community by collectively consuming copious quantities of fine pizza and beer.
I spoke to a waitress about this. She said that Zachary’s has a $25,000 plumbing problem that the UofA won’t pay to fix (The UofA being the great landlord that it is). Zachary’s was informed by the UofA that they can vacate the premisis, and once they do, it will become a parking lot.
Old Bumble was made for Zachery’s and it could only be sold at Nimbus on Mondays and there was a 2 pint limit. It has been called No Evil and Old Monk before its current name of Monkey Shine.
We just went the other day and asked a worker when the last day would be. She said the end of the month or “We might stay open.” Marketing ploy….???
If grimilidi is a flavorless chain how is it they make $10K weekly and zack’s cant even pay up a 25K sewer problem
The Star missed this story and is just now reporting on Z’s closure.
We named our first born after Zachary’s Pizza. He is now 13 years old. We love the pizza : Double Whammy with Garlic and Pepperoni and love the beer selection! We haven’t been in years! We live in Phoenix now but will try to make it back before they close. So sad. Z’s PIzza: you’ll be missed!!
Oh hell. My favorite pizza place on the entire planet and it’s closing?!? Why, why, why?
Tucson native just seeing this from Seattle today. I did page layout on one of Dave’s early menus and even worked as a cook at Zachary’s for a bit while going to the U of A. I can not tell you how sad I am to see this happen. Outside of South 4th Zachary’s was one of the places I always visited when I came home. What’s next? El Charro opens chain restaurants?
El Charro did open a different restaurant. It’s called “Sir Vezas Taco Garage”…and it’s not El Charro quality.
You know, I say to the owner of Zachary’s if they are out there reading: Three and a half Brothers closed down on 1st Avenue. It’s a cute little building and their chef made wonderfull hamburgers and bottle caps. Maybe you could take over that building and get him to do some of the cooking and combine the two menus a bit. But, if you do, please do NOT let him make chicken fried steak.
when is last day open
?
Super-sad. We haven’t been in Tucson in years and are planning a trip. Z’s was the first place we looked up, and the tragedy of its closing is brand new to us.