Pizza Ranch Pilgrimage: Man's Quest To Visit Every Pizza Ranch

🍕 Midwestern man on a mission: Jason Halkias wants to experience the unique charm of every Pizza Ranch location. Join his savory adventure! 🚗 #MinnesotaNews #WinonaMN #FoodieNews

WINONA, MN – One man’s cheesy journey to experience every Pizza Ranch location across the Midwest has captured the attention of many. Jason Halkias, a resident of Davenport, Iowa, has embarked on a quest to visit all 200+ Pizza Ranch restaurants spanning 14 states.

🚗 The Journey Continues

This Memorial Day weekend, Jason Halkias made his way to Mankato, Minnesota, to visit the Pizza Ranch locations in the southern one-third of the state. After completing this leg of his journey, Halkias plans to visit newly opening Pizza Ranch restaurants, ensuring that he experiences the unique atmosphere and offerings of each location.

🍗 More Than Just a Meal

For Jason Halkias, visiting Pizza Ranch is about more than just the food.

“I just love the environment of Pizza Ranch because no matter where you go, every location, despite being similar in some facets, is unique in every way,” he told local reporters from KEYC.

This sentiment highlights the chain’s ability to create a welcoming and distinctive dining experience that keeps customers coming back for more.

🌎 A Midwest Tradition

Founded in 1981 by Adrie Groeneweg and Lawrence Vander Esch, Pizza Ranch has become a beloved fast-casual dining establishment known for its pizza, chicken, and expansive buffet.

With a strong presence in states like Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota, the chain has grown to over 200 locations, each offering a distinct experience while maintaining the brand’s core values.

🙏 Faith and Food

As a Christian-based company, Pizza Ranch’s vision is “To glorify God by positively impacting the world we live in.” This faith-driven mission resonates with many of its patrons and has contributed to the chain’s success in the Midwest.

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🚨 A Troubling Past

While Pizza Ranch has become a beloved dining establishment for many Midwestern families, the company’s history is not without controversy. Co-founder Lawrence Vander Esch left the company in 2001 after being arrested and sent to prison for sexual abuse involving the collection of semen samples from his teenage employees.

This disturbing incident has cast a long shadow over the chain’s early years and serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals in the workplace.

🗳️ A Political Pit Stop

Iowa, home to the first caucus in the U.S. presidential primary elections, has over 70 Pizza Ranch locations. As a result, the chain has become a frequent stop for presidential candidates, particularly those from the Republican party. The “Pizza Ranch strategy” was first noted during Mike Huckabee’s successful campaign in the 2008 Republican caucuses, despite being a longshot candidate.

🍕 A Shared Love for Pizza Ranch

Bill Kaminski, of Winona, Minnesota, shares Jason Halkias’ passion for Pizza Ranch. Like Halkias, Johnson has been known to traverse the tri-state area of Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin in search of the perfect Pizza Ranch experience.

“There’s just something special about the atmosphere and the food at Pizza Ranch,” Kaminski explains. “It’s become a bit of an obsession for me.”

With the announcement of a new Pizza Ranch location opening soon in Winona, Johnson is thrilled at the prospect of having his favorite restaurant closer to home. To find a location near you, visit Pizza Ranch’s website here.

“I can’t wait for the grand opening,” he says with a smile. “It’s going to be a game-changer for me and all the other Pizza Ranch fans in town.”