Izzy's Pizza Olympia

• 0 Stars.

A Northwest tradition for going on 40 years.

It was 1979: McDonald’s was selling its first Happy Meal, the Seattle Supersonics were winning their first (and only) NBA title; “Star Trek, the Motion Picture” was filling theater seats, and in Corvallis and Albany, Oregon, a new pizza restaurant chain was being launched by Fred Jansen and his mother Isabel (Izzy) Covalt.

Pizza, Plus a Whole Lot More

Beginning with pizza, chicken, potato rounds, baked beans and cinnamon rolls, Izzy’s menu expanded in the early ‘90s to include salad, dessert and hot food buffet bars, in addition to its signature pizza. Gradually, we extended our geographic coverage in Oregon and into Washington as new stores opened under company and franchisee ownership, and innovations such as open-flame grills and seasonally featured entrees were introduced.

At the same time, Izzy’s grew as a “go-to” destination for generations of Northwest families, not only for its varied and affordable menu, tasty recipes and locally sourced ingredients, but as a welcoming venue for team parties, birthday celebrations and other special occasions marking milestones in the lives of our customers.

Much to look back on …and more to come.

For Izzy’s, as for the region and the nation, the recent decades have brought challenges and achievements, gains, setbacks and inevitable change. But through it all, our customers have turned to us for a unique casual-dining experience that’s been imitated but never duplicated. So if it’s a question of who delivers the best value among Northwest buffet restaurants, the answer is Izzy’s. (Who else?)