Craigo’s “Used-To-Be-A” Pizzaria
Back in my Rexburg “Ricks College” days, there was a place you could eat, where the cheese oozed over bread-sticks, soda came caffeinated, and local bands playing the stage had known each other for only a week (and it showed). A college town pizza dive is what it was, and it was wonderful. Prior to Craigo’s Pizza setting up shop next to Ricks College (it was next door to the current day Hogie Yogi), the building had been occupied by multiple failing pizza joints, which never seemed to find the magic of a college pizza stop.
Craigo’s found it by catering to the late night student cravings and a magical thing called cheese sticks. Of all my purchases in those early years I think I bought pizza once, sticking instead to the bread. Cheese had never graced twisted bread in such oozing amounts, and the sauce completed the deal. Ask anyone from that era what they preferred to eat late at night and Craigo’s cheese sticks are the only answer given. Simply the best pizza in Rexburg or anywhere else.
One of my favorite college memories was the student appreciation night where soda and breadsticks were given out free. For one, I like to think of Mormons as the cheapest religion on earth… I’m a member, but I can call a spade a spade, so on this night the building was packed way beyond it’s capacity. The mood was lively, everyone had bread in their mouth, and all seemed right in the world. I even think this was the night I hatched the idea to raffle off my awesome ride… a sweet looking Yugo… that’s how magical the night was (eventually that idea fell through and I sold it to a group of high school skaters who kept it on Rexburg streets for a long time to come). So, it was a wonderful night.
Fast forward to today. Now Craigo’s little dive has been shut down and moved to the northern side of town, and the name has been changed to “Craigo’s Gourmet Pizza Company.” I claim it had more class before the classy name change. I don’t need to give a lengthy explanation on every little detail but I will cut to the highlights.
The pizza is one step up from frozen pizza. I think because they embrace the idea of buffett style pizza, they’ve given up on taste. It’s like a marriage where one spouse, or both, decides that now they’re married they’ll just let themselves go in appearance and smell. I’m not saying it’s bad, but I’m saying they’ve regressed from what I remember.
The atmosphere is clausterphobic. I know they wanted to add a little something special by making enclosed booths, which are probably thought to be intimate, but to me I feel cut off from everyone else, and that’s what I used to love… seeing everyone else have a good time in one big room. Let’s tear down these walls.
I don’t remember what the bathrooms were like in the old Craigo’s, but I think that’s telling. They were probably clean enough and ample enough so that my mind simply filed it away in the cold-storage area of my brain, never to be visited again. I’ll never forget the current bathrooms. First of all, bring your coat along and don’t bring a buddy. The heating sytem must have been left out of the planning stages of construction because that room is on the level of the outside temperature, and the small size of it almost makes it a single occupancy bathroom. The bathroom experience will most likely be my last Craigo’s experience.
The saddest part of all is the lack of breadsticks. Every time I go they never seem to put them out, nor are they promoted as ‘the’ item on the menu, so it’s not that I can claim they no longer taste wonderful but I just don’t know if they exist in their previous form. How sad. Well, Craigo’s I loved you and I miss you. Maybe someone else will buy the old abandoned building and turn it back into a place where you can just hang out and avoid your homework.
I also remember that Craigo’s used to have a cheap buffet at the old location. While I did brave eating the pizza, I also remember going there on a Saturday night with about $6.00 in my pocket and being able to fill up on pizza while watching the night game on ESPN. *sigh* things just ain’t what they used to be…
We used to hit it in the winter and pump ourselves up by watching ski and snowboard videos. Good times.
Yes, the breadsticks were THE best, but don’t forget the pizza bombs. They were huge and packed with cheese. Hawaiian was my personal favorite.
If I go back I’ll try that out. I was pretty much exclusive in my love towards cheese bread sticks. I loved how the cheese stretched about two feet before snapping apart.
I as well miss the old craigo’s. It feels like as ol` craigo’s changed so did Rexburg and the students here. The fun college lifestyle I remember as a freshman is completely gone. Something happened and it’s sad, and apparently very serious.
I think you nailed it. Maybe Craigo’s is really just the canary in the mine. I’m sure they’re happy with their success, and they should be, but little college dives are a rare commodity, especially in Rexburg, and it’s tough to see one go.
Oh Craigo’s how I miss you! I lived across the street from the blessed spot and think my freshmen 40 can be alloted (partially) to Craigo’s breadsticks and pizza bombs. What joy they brought my tastebuds, stomache, and thighs but oh so worth it!! I heard it wasn’t the same anymore and what a tragedy that is!!!
People still seem to like the restaurant, as it stands now, but those like my family weren’t the type to go when it was just a college joint, and so they don’t really see the difference. That would have been too much temptation for me having it so close.
Hello,
I own craigo’s and I must say, you guys have no clue what it takes to run a restaurant and pay taxes. We moved because we had no parking and the polygamist that owned the building never paid taxes on it and sold it to a guy who wanted 5k a month for rent. The bread sticks were cheap when you had your 20 daughters work for free making them each day. You didn’t pay workmans comp or liability for employees. It sounds like most of you are out of college now. Welcome to the real world.
Hey Matt,
Point taken. I’ve never had a problem with the prices at Craigo’s but I wistfully think back to college days and having a small atmospheric place to hang out. I realize that some of the things we love are not always sustainable, and that must not have been fun to have the rent cranked up. On the plus side you get to look at that vacant building earning $0 in rent, and laugh a little inside every time you drive by. Okay, my new gripe is with greedy landlords.
I never heard of polygamists in Rexburg. Dang, Rexburg gets cooler and cooler.
Dallan
Matt,
One more thing that I forgot to say. If you would like to write a rebuttal I’ll post it on the front page for you.
Thanks,
Dallan
Dallan’s wife Natalie here…
Well said Matt Smith! I love the new Craigo’s. It is family friendly, clean, and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The buffet is delicious and it is one of the few family affordable restaurants out there. Every time we travel to Rexburg we eat at Craigo’s and I look forward to returning again and again.
I must say I am surprised at your responses. Thanks! I thought I would get trashed. I would like to write a rebuttal. Give me a day, I am heading to work right now.
Matt,
Sounds great! Just send it to me at rexburbia@gmail.com. And if you want to add a picture of the business or something else just send that along as well.
Thanks,
Dallan
Still wondering why the issue of the cheese breadsticks was never addressed. Even if you charged more, people would come. Bring the breadsticks back. The rolls Craigo’s have now are sad. That is all.
Jane
We came hungry into Rexburg from out of town and I remembered someone had mentioned Craigo’s. We went there and bottom line, it was among the best and how can you beat “all you can eat?” We went away very pleased and still smacking our lips from choices like the Oreo Pizza Pie to the very unique “Spudilicious” or something like that. And how can you argue with “packed” most evenings?
I think most of us agree the pizza is okay. I have ordered the breadsticks at the New Craigo’s and they were nothing like the old ones. The old ones were thick, braided, and had tons of cheese. The new ones were more like a pizza crust with cheese on top, cut into strips. Again, not BAD, but not the Craigo’s breadsticks we dream of.
My sister and I so miss these sticks that we’ve tried many different techniques to replicate them, starting with made from scratch dough. We’ve gotten pretty close, but it’s labor intensive!
I agree with the other poster: make them, and people will pay. If they’re as good as they used to be, people will open their wallets.