State Street, That Great Street: Letters
Alumni recall good times on UW–Madison’s main drag.
In our spring 2026 issue, “State Street, That Great Street” revisited old haunts and showcased new favorites on UW–Madison’s legendary campus corridor. The article spurred an outpouring of letters from alumni who fondly recalled their own days on State Street — and who passionately advocated for bars, stores, and restaurants we didn’t have space to mention.
Many thanks to Preston Schmitt for his stroll down the memory that is State Street. A brisk walk from Library Mall to the Capitol and back provided just the intellectual respite I needed after hours slogging through GPA killers like organic chemistry and calculus. Serious studying requires reinvigoration, and the seemingly endless parade of State Street denizens provides that for me. In many ways, I owe my academic success to those walks. State Street is, indeed, a special place in Madison.
—Michael T. Selch ’73
In the spring semester of 1970, I was a junior waitressing at Gargano’s pizzeria on State Street — late shift. That was the year the Vietnam War expanded into Cambodia and the classes I inhabited seemed to virtually shut down — everyone was meeting and protesting. I thought it was better to take the semester off and earn some money. I have four memories: sloshing a plate of spaghetti into a customer’s lap, convincing my shifts to pool tips (I wasn’t a very good waitress), smashing iceberg lettuces on the table to pull out the hard core, and the joy of sunrise after a long night of work, then sleeping till afternoon. Those were the days!
—Robin Kutner ’72
My parents lived on Hawthorn Court just off State Street when I was born in 1950. I had many fun State Street experiences shopping, dining, and drinking during the crazy ’60s and ’70s (especially Saturday pregame beers on a window stool at The Pub).
Once the Orpheum Theater offered two free tickets to a James Brown concert for the best reason someone would deserve to see the show in 10 words or less. My submission: “My girlfriend will dump me if I don’t get tickets.” One year after attending that great show, my James Brown date became my first wife! We even got our wedding rings at Goodman’s Jewelers on State Street.
—Doug Lindquist ’72, MBA’73
Thanks for the great article about State Street. What a wonderful trip down memory lane. My family moved to Madison in 1973 when I was just 10 years old. My first memories of State Street revolve around our hippie mom treating my sister and me to toasted cinnamon raisin bagels smothered with peanut butter and honey, served at the aptly named Good Karma restaurant. I think it was in a basement on the south side of the 500 block.
I remember Lake Street Station, which was a record store and weed paraphernalia shop.
Sacred Feather sold more than just hats. I’m still carrying a fine leather wallet I purchased there in the 1980s, along with a matching leather checkbook cover and datebook cover, still in great shape, although the latter two have been rarely used in the last couple decades, what with electronic banking and calendars.
When I was a teenager, several blocks of State Street were still open for driving private cars. It was a great place to cruise and people-watch on a Saturday night. As a 16-year-old I used to think that college students were so mature.
Great memories!
—Tom Hazen x’88, MBA’95
Nice job on “State Street, That Great Street.” I have vivid memories of my days at the UW and, of course, of State Street. It was the place to be for good food and nightlife. In my opinion, there is one glaring omission in your article — The Pub. Certainly no establishment during the late ’60s and early ’70s served more UW students than The Pub. It was busy on weeknights and packed on the weekends.
—Gary Konwinski ’74
When I attended the UW in the late 1960s, our group would hang out at the KK (Kollege Klub). Ed Sweet ’70 would start playing the Subway pinball machine and one of our friends would continue playing throughout the day, usually on his first dime. Of course, we would eat their burgers and O Steak and beers. We also played Palooka at Burgerville. To cap off the day, Ella’s Deli. I come back many times a year to eat at State Street Brats.
—Jay Bubrick ’71
I thoroughly enjoyed reading “State Street, That Great Street” — the attention to detail in particular. I’ve reread it several times.
My memories of State Street are numerous, one being the couple steps up to Rennebohm’s at State and Lake, known to many of us students simply as “The Pharm,” to enjoy a cake after classes.
In my senior year, the main assignment in Elizabeth Patterson’s feature writing class in journalism school was to write and sell a feature story. I chose the busy little popcorn shop on the wedge-shaped corner of State just west of the Orpheum. The shop was bustling with customers — many of them UW students — selecting their favorite flavor before watching a movie at the Orpheum or the Capitol right across the street. The Orpheum and the Capitol were the city’s top first-run houses for years. I did sell the story to a trade publication and earned an “A.”
One more memory of State Street is the Toddle House, a little freestanding restaurant on the north side of State about halfway between Park Street and the Capitol building. While walking back to the dorms on Lake Mendota, we students would often stop for a breakfast-type snack at the Toddle House after a movie. It was clean, friendly, and inexpensive.
Good memories!
—Dan Omernik ’57
There was The Pub located on State Street. One year, the Badgers basketball team was at Ohio State for an afternoon game. We were badly outmatched against a team that included future NBA and Hall of Fame players. We were listening to the game (on radio) at the frat house, and somehow Wisconsin won!
We all raced down to The Pub to celebrate. Now, there were two rules at The Pub that would get you kicked out: number one, dancing on the tables. Number two, “accidentally” dropping and crashing your glass beer mug on the floor.
So, I’m dancing on one of the tables, when the bouncer (future Governor of Wisconsin Tommy Thompson) grabs me to kick me out. At that point, our fraternity president yells: “If Feldman goes, we all go,” and along with everyone else in The Pub, drops his glass beer mug, which crashes on the floor! Then everyone heads for the door as fast as they can. (It took two days to clean up the place.)
Fast forward 25 years or so. Tommy Thompson is now governor. He’s hosting a reception at the Governor’s Mansion for industry folks and publishers to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the American Dairy Association.
There’s a reception line to shake hands with the governor. When it’s my turn, he grabs my hand tightly and says: “I know you from someplace!” So we spend the rest of the reception retelling the story, and the governor graciously takes us on a tour of the mansion.
Solid guy, that governor. Should have run for president!
—Martin Feldman ’64
I remember many fun and inebriated times at Madison from 1982 to 1986. One of the greatest memories was the Halloween celebration in 1982. The event really blew my mind at the time, as there were over 110,000 people on State Street that Saturday evening. The Badgers crushed Northwestern University earlier that day, and the rest of the day was one big party extravaganza. I remember getting dressed up in Halloween garb and painting my face like a zebra. Walking up State Street that evening was like being a blood cell in a vein. It was really packed. The police greased the light poles, but people still climbed them. There were people stripping in apartment windows above the shops on State Street. There were no rules on carry-ins, and the crushed glass on the street was inches thick. It was amazing that so few people got injured that evening.
One of my favorite bars on State Street was the State Street Infirmary, which was not listed in the article. I liked the bar because they served gyro sandwiches which were just about as good as those at the Parthenon. The bartenders there would give me breaks on paying for the sandwiches and drinks, and often just poured lines of shots on the bar. Unfortunately, one of the last evenings I was there it burned up.
—Rob Martens ’86
The Preston Schmitt State Street article brought back many fond memories. Breakfast at Rennebohm’s before 8:45 classes, and the Chocolate Shoppe was always a treat. One retail store that was omitted was The Clothes Post. They had the proper blue blazer or whatever was needed for the collegiate look.
—William Soman ’70
Memories of State Street during freshman and sophomore years at Ann Emery Hall (1944–46), with World War II raging. Ann Emery was behind shops on State Street, very handy for those of us living in that dorm.
Cigarettes rationed. Students lined up single-file at the pharm to get one pack. Glad I never smoked.
Chocolate Shoppe a lovely, quiet popular retreat for heavenly chocolate yummies. Great spot to relax with friends and reflect on the day’s activities.
The Cabin (I think that’s what it was called) was a small, popular beer haunt. Sat on the tables, feet on benches. Always crowded.
Ice-skated on Library Mall — beginning of State Street then.
—Joan Chalmers Harris ’48
I graduated from the UW in 1973 and haven’t lived in the area since 1984. I was a frequent customer at The Brathaus because Warren Lamm (Lammy) was my uncle. I have often visited State Street Brats when back in Wisconsin visiting family.
Going further back in State Street history was the Log Cabin. I don’t know when it opened but my father, Paul Lamm, ran the Log Cabin, and I understand that he hired Lammy to work there after he returned from World War II. I find it interesting that in those days steak sandwiches were 15 cents or two for a quarter.
—Katy Lamm Rogers ’73
To my dismay, there was no mention of The Pub or the Varsity Bar (a.k.a. The Var Bar), both of which thrived on lower State Street for a long time. Although I am admittedly older than dirt, there are quite a few of us ancient grads from the early sixties still doddering around, and I can assure you that those two watering holes are fondly remembered as major facets of our UW experiences.
—Marilyn Taylor ’64
Nice walking down memory lane, but there’s a critical omission: Anthology, owned by Madison natives and UW graduates proudly selling Wisconsin and UW-themed gifts, stickers, and paper products. Little Luxuries is mentioned, and although adjacent, the two are distinct stores and each deserve mention, especially as Anthology is locally owned!
—Ann Fritz MS’96, MS’21
I attended the UW from 1986 to 1990. I have many great memories and a lot of them had to do with walking down State Street, alone or with my friends, eating, drinking, shopping, or celebrating Halloween. One particular restaurant meal I remember and enjoyed was called pork noodle at Shanghai Mini’s. It had the perfect amount of spice to it, Napa cabbage and slippery noodles. I wish it was still around because I would go there when I’m in town. I loved meeting people from so many cultures when I was there.
—Patti Newberg Gerhardt ’90
I was dismayed that the State Street article did not mention an institution that has been present on State Street for 119 years, the Saint Paul’s Catholic Student Center. Granted it may not fit into the commercialization facet of the State Street article but is arguably one of the more prominent buildings on State Street and is a cultural touchstone fondly remembered by many alumni.
—Gerry Gosewehr ’75
I remember buying albums at B-side Records. There was a step or two up into the long narrow shop. They would always have a new album playing. One day it was the 1985 LP by a reunited UK folk band called Pentangle, Open the Door. I stood and listened to almost the whole album, nothing like I ever appreciated before. I still listen to that album often and never would have been aware of it had it not been for that day.
—Shane Zaruba ’87
I don’t get back to Madison often but each time the many changes around campus are exemplified by the different offerings on State Street. So different from my time at the UW in the mid ’80s, where an excursion to that side of campus was always a treat featuring the three P’s – Paul’s Books, Pegasus Games, and Puzzlebox.
—Jim Pederson ’88
Your State Street article certainly brought back many memories to us. Another eatery we can’t forget is The Plaza Tavern on North Henry Street, just a half block off State Street. In 1964 they began selling the Plazaburger with their secret sauce. We’ve tried to replicate that sauce for years without success. Each week we would bring them a shopping bag of empty Coke bottles using the deposit refund as a downpayment on Plazaburgers! Try one — they are still in business.
—Janice Carlson Donner ’66 and Jack Donner ’65, MBA’66
After I graduated and moved back to St. Louis, I used to dream about walking up and down State Street. Preston Schmitt’s story really brought back some great memories. I used to live two blocks off the Capitol Square and would walk State Street all the time. I dragged my husband up and down that street years later and was happy that I could still get a gyro from the Parthenon.
—Valerie Goldston ’85
I really enjoyed the State Street article. I attended the UW in the late 1950s and was trying to recall the name of the Italian restaurant in a basement on State Street. There were murals on the walls and the owner would sing along with the opera records he played over the sound system. I would go there frequently with a friend and enjoyed the spaghetti. It was such a favorite place that I proposed to my future wife there and gave her a small ring (poor-student size). We have now been married 65 years.
—Richard Garberson ’60
State Street was a great street. Was. The last time we strolled it I cried.
The massive departures are too much for this alumnus. You know it’s bad when The Pipefitter closed.
It was an eclectic mix of small quirky shops and restaurants. No, the libs in Madison let the riots during COVID go on and vandalize small businesses. No, I don’t want a Target on State Street, nor do I want every chain restaurant or clothing store. High-rise apartments absolutely killed the State Street vibe.
It’s gone. So unfortunate that the heart and soul of campus life is now commercialized.
No, we won’t be back for our several-times-a-year visit. My heart can’t take it.
—Mary Hotchkiss ’77
Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your walk up State Street. Loved the photos and the info about current and, of course, past businesses.
In Ogg West (1970–71) we ordered a lot of Gargano’s pizzas. One nearby dorm door had maybe a couple dozen Gargano’s bill’s taped to it.
The Pub, Chesty’s, Paul’s when the tree was still alive. Marches to the capitol (tear gas and the occasional police club). I appreciate the forbearance and professionalism of the Madison Police.
It’s so nostalgic for me. Enjoy it. It’s wonderful.
—Scott Wilcott ’86
Published in the Summer 2026 issue
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