Oak Ridge still has pizza...

[Victor N TN]

After a trip to my lung doctor today, my wife and I decided to go the 2 blocks to Big Ed's Pizza and have a GREAT pizza. We had not been there since Dave Neusel the owner, passed away, 25-OCT-2013. The business was started in 1970 by his father "Big Ed" Neusel. Ed was a US Marine and was proud of it. I shot with him a few times on the rifle range at ORSA. He was someone you HAD to contend with.

When Ed passed away almost 20 years ago Dave took over the pizza shop. I had shot IPSC with Dave for several years back in the 1980s and 1990s. Dave had been in the US Navy. I don't know his job. He never mentioned it and I didn't ask. But on several occasions after a big match, they would hang a big sign on the door saying, "Closed for Private Party". All the shooters got all the pizza and Coca-Cola they could drink.

I've said all that so I could say this:
Dave's wife Melissa has kept the restaurant open! The sign out front still says "Big Ed's Pizza". And the pizza was still just seconds out of the oven and the Coke is still ice cold.

So if you ever find yourself in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and have the urge for a pizza just ask anyone that lives there. They can tell you where it is.

Big Ed's Pizza owner David Neusel dies

 

[LocoGringo]

You're right...great pizza and a local joint rather than some big chain store. Great atmosphere too.

 

[MAGUA]

They have Pizza in Tennessee ?

 

[Veer_G]

They have Pizza in Tennessee ?

Yeah. So they say. But the man's happy and nostalgic, so let it be.

Everybody has their own "Big Ed's." Here's mine: Pizzeria Philadelphia, PA - Celebre's Pizzeria

 

[nso123]

I remember going to Big Ed's many times after matches at Oak Ridge when I was a kid. We would camp at the Cross-eyed Cricket campground, shoot the match, eat Big Ed's, repeat.

 

[PatrickChewing]

I remember eating at Big Ed's years ago as a kid. My Grandmother lived in Oak Ridge and she would take us. Good memories!

 

[shoot4fun]

Sorry to hear about David. He was a good guy. I had not seen him for years but ran into him in a local shop in the Knoxville area a couple of years ago. It was like old times. I have been to Big Ed's several times back in the day. That is some good pizza and I am glad to hear it is still there.

 

[dvdt]

Glad to hear it's still going. I can't wait to get back to TN and eat some Big Ed's!

 

[Kaisersose]

Big Ed's was one of my wife's favorite date spots after we went mountain biking in Oak Ridge.

 

[hlee]

Everybody has their own "Big Ed's." Here's mine: Pizzeria Philadelphia, PA - Celebre's Pizzeria

If you haven't eaten at Pepe's in New Haven Conn, you have not eaten pizza- unless you've eaten at Sally's. Debate Chicago style v New York style all you want. New Haven pizza is what they both want to be when they grow up!!!

 

[LocoGringo]

If you haven't eaten at Pepe's in New Haven Conn, you have not eaten pizza- unless you've eaten at Sally's. Debate Chicago style v New York style all you want. New Haven pizza is what they both want to be when they grow up!!!

Really?!? A pizza pissing match now? Talk about "growing up"...

 

[LocoGringo]

They have Pizza in Tennessee ?

Yeah, and freedom and guns with more than 10 rounds allowed, or 7 or whatever the silly regulation is there in New York.

 

[nervous]

Damn Good Pizza!!! Nice place to go after a match!

Nervous

 

[MAGUA]

Yeah, and freedom and guns with more than 10 rounds allowed, or 7 or whatever the silly regulation is there in New York.

Where are you from Loco ?

 

[pawprint2]

Big Ed was a fervent supporter of the shooting sports-one of the best. After every regional match held at Oak Ridge ( and many other matches too), he would bring in a crew (sunday) and serve all the pizza, coke and beer to the shooters and their "crews" for free. It was not unusual for Big Ed to bring 15-20 pizzas to the club house at the range, and everyone would enjoy. After leaving the Marine Corp, Big Ed started his pizza joint in Oak Ridge-dedicated to making the best pizza you ever had. It was not unusual to see a line of 50-100 people standing outside Bid Ed's on a Friday or Saturday evening-it was that good. Big Ed was missed by 1000s of people, as he helped a LOT of people over his life time. His son was also a great guy, didn't change a thing. There aren't too many businesses that are as open a supporter of the shooting sports (those that are not trying to sell you something related to shooting) as Big Eds Pizza. For years prior to Big Eds death, the regional at Oak Ridge was un-officially called the "Big Eds Regional" by shooters around the country. He's the type of guy that helped make America strong, God Bless him and Dave, they are missed.

 

[LocoGringo]

Where are you from Loco ?

Kinda hard to say...I've grown up in Tennessee most of my life. Currently living in Powell, TN.

 

[Lowlight]

Wooster Street is the standard on which all pizza is judged. If you've never ate there it's just a pizza debate, if you have you understand there is no contest.

Ask yourself this, would you stand in the cold for 2 hours to get into a pizza joint, if the answer is no, you've never been to Wooster Street in New Haven.

still it was a good story, thanks Victor.

 

[MAGUA]

Wooster Street is the standard on which all pizza is judged. If you've never ate there it's just a pizza debate, if you have you understand there is no contest.

Ask yourself this, would you stand in the cold for 2 hours to get into a pizza joint, if the answer is no, you've never been to Wooster Street in New Haven.

still it was a good story, thanks Victor.

I'm Italian and i love pizza but i'll be damned if i'm waiting on line for two hours for pizza. Lol. Sometimes the really best pizza and Italian restaurants are the ones that are low key and don't advertise.

It's all about personal taste anyway when it comes to food.

Mangiare

 

[hlee]

I'm Italian and i love pizza but i'll be damned if i'm waiting on line for two hours for pizza. Lol. Sometimes the really best pizza and Italian restaurants are the ones that are low key and don't advertise.

It's all about personal taste anyway when it comes to food.

Mangiare

Neither Pepe's nor Sally's advertise- at least anything beyond the yellow pages (the Wooster Sq. Pizza referenced by Lowlight above)...

It has been said about other things, but applies here... "It's like explaining sex to a virgin."

 

[Lowlight]

They don't advertise, they are just in the center of Yale. They take August off and start when school starts.

Presidents eat on Wooster Street.

PS, I like Modern too... you can do any of the three there.

These pizza places have been open since I can remember and are small in comparison to most modern joints. Growing up 20 minutes away has it's advantages.

At Sally's you can get an $80 pizza too

 

[MAGUA]

They don't advertise, they are just in the center of Yale. They take August off and start when school starts.

Presidents eat on Wooster Street.

PS, I like Modern too... you can do any of the three there.

These pizza places have been open since I can remember and are small in comparison to most modern joints. Growing up 20 minutes away has it's advantages.

At Sally's you can get an $80 pizza too

Holy shit $80 for a pizza . What did it taste like ?

 

[Switchblade]

Trying to find a good pizza around here sucks. The chains suck, and the very few independents use canned mushrooms. Maybe a trip to Oakridge would be worth the drive for a good pizza and some ice cold root beer, not to mention good company

 

[Victor N TN]

Trying to find a good pizza around here sucks. The chains suck, and the very few independents use canned mushrooms. Maybe a trip to Oakridge would be worth the drive for a good pizza and some ice cold root beer, not to mention good company

If you let me know when you want to make the trip, I'll give you nickel tour of ORSA ranges. Then we can get a hot pizza.

The ONLY time I was in New York was changing planes there. That was in 1981. My memory erasers have about deleted everything that old. Nothing wrong with big cities if that's what you like. We lived in Houston for a little over a year. First chance I got I came back to the hills I'm from.