Since opening its doors in downtown Columbia in 1973, Shakespeare’s Pizza has become more than just a restaurant—it’s a Columbia tradition and cultural institution. 🍕
What started as a small takeout pizza shop occupying just one room has grown into a beloved three-location empire serving University of Missouri students, locals, and travelers with loaded pizzas that earned recognition as the Best College Hangout in the Nation from Good Morning America.
How Shakespeare’s Pizza won Columbia’s hearts
In 1976, Columbia natives Jay and Nancy Lewis purchased Shakespeare’s from the original owners for a simple reason: they loved the pizza and wanted to be their own boss.
Under the Lewis family’s ownership, the restaurant’s popularity exploded, with demand consistently outpacing their space. 📈
Whenever a spot in the downtown building opened up, Shakespeare’s knocked down brick wall dividers and moved in, adding more dining tables and eventually a bar.
The restaurant eventually took over the entire building at Ninth and Elm, creating a hodgepodge collection of spaces that became the eclectic environment customers loved.
In 2010, Shakespeare’s received national recognition when Good Morning America voted them Best College Hangout in the nation, cementing their status as a Missouri icon.
The original downtown building was demolished and reconstructed in 2016 to make room for student housing, with the renovated downtown location reopening that same year, maintaining the beloved atmosphere.
By 2023, Shakespeare’s had grown from a carry-out only restaurant with roughly 7 employees to operating three Columbia locations with approximately 175 employees after 50 years in business.
Food Highlights
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The Masterpiece: The crown jewel that ABC News and Good Morning America called the best college eats in the nation—red onions, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, fresh mushrooms, black olives, green peppers, Italian sausage, and lean ground beef.
- Panda’s Pepper: A cult favorite among Shakespeare’s employees featuring pepper cheese, pepperoni, green peppers, jalapeños, and banana peppers.
- Good Ol’ Plain Cheese Pizza: Shakespeare’s philosophy that you should judge a pizza joint by its plain cheese pizza—a very economical choice with perfectly melted cheese.
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Pizza Lovers’ Passion: The ultimate customization option, where you order any five toppings but only pay for four, letting customers create their perfect pizza without the premium up-charge.
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The Vegetablenarian: A veggie lover’s paradise with double cheese, red onions, fresh mushrooms, black olives, and green peppers.
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The Darwin: Named in honor of former Columbia Mayor Darwin Hindman, this heart-healthy option features red onions, green peppers, artichoke hearts, turkey, and tomatoes.
- The Meat Lover’s: A carnivore’s dream featuring pepperoni, Canadian bacon, ground beef, Italian sausage, and breakfast bacon.
Atmosphere
The downtown location at 225 South Ninth Street embraces its maze-like layout with multiple rooms, creating an adventure for first-time visitors and a perfect space for big groups.
The unconventional decor that made Shakespeare’s famous remains intact, with customers keeping the iconic pint glasses after purchase. 🍺
The casual, welcoming environment where University of Missouri students, families, and locals gather over loaded pizza and cold beer creates the perfect college town hangout atmosphere that earned national recognition.
Bottom Line
Experience over 50 years of Columbia pizza tradition at the restaurant, Good Morning America named Best College Hangout in the Nation.
Their commitment to loaded toppings means you get generous portions on every pizza without skimping as you add more ingredients.
The iconic 16-inch pizza delivers a third more area than most competitors’ “large” sizes.
Address:
225 South Ninth Street, Columbia, MO 65201
📞 (573) 449-2454
🕔 Mon-Thu: 11:00 AM–11:00 PM | Fri-Sat: 11:00 AM–12:00 AM | Sun: 11:00 AM–11:00 PM