Local
Greenfield’s Organ Piper keeps its theater-organ tradition alive at 50
Organ Piper Pizza is celebrating five decades in Greenfield with its Wurlitzer organ, retro attractions and made-from-scratch thin-crust pizza. Owner Derek Paikowski says preserving the restaurant’s old-fashioned character has helped it endure, though the business has weathered difficult times.
GREENFIELD — Organ Piper Pizza, the family restaurant where live theater-organ music accompanies dinner, is marking 50 years at 4353 S. 108th St. The business opened in 1976 and is one of just three venues of its kind remaining in the country, according to its owner.
The restaurant’s centerpiece is a Wurlitzer pipe organ that once belonged to Milwaukee’s Avalon Theater. Its music can trigger a series of mechanical surprises: ceiling ducks quack, a Raggedy Ann doll pops out of a grandfather clock, and a nearby grand piano plays. Four pipers — Zach Frame, Perry Petta, Dean Rosko and Jelani Eddington — perform a mix of classic and contemporary pop, along with children’s music.
Owner Derek Paikowski has worked at Organ Piper since 1983, joined the business as an owner in 1989 and took full ownership within the past decade. He said the restaurant’s established following has helped it through challenges, but running the business has not always been easy.
Rather than overhaul the decor, Paikowski has kept its nostalgic look and number-based ordering system. The organ itself requires regular care, including humidifiers and dehumidifiers to manage changes in the pipes and wood as conditions shift, he said.
The menu centers on made-from-scratch thin-crust pizzas, including the Milwaukee Special with sausage, mushrooms and onions, as well as BBQ Chicken Jalapeño and macaroni-and-cheese pizzas. The restaurant also serves salads, sandwiches, pasta, appetizers and fish fry. A small carousel and a game room with vintage arcade machines and pinball add to the family-oriented setting.
Organ Piper is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 4 to 8:30 p.m.