2022 Mesa Visitors Guide

Pizza AND Pipes Hit the
Right Note for 50 Years
For many, a 50th anniversary might be
considered the “golden anniversary,”
but for folks in Mesa it might as well
be called the “pizza anniversary.” That’s
how long Organ Stop Pizza has been
part of Arizona’s foodie scene.
“In the 1970s and 1980s, live pipe
organ music could be heard in more
than 100 pizzerias across the country,”
said Jack Barz, co-owner of Organ Stop
Pizza. “By the 1990s what we call ‘pizza
and pipes’ restaurants were practically
nonexistent, but thanks to our loyal
patrons, talented organists and
remarkable staff, we are proud to be a
living piece of history five decades later.”
As the state’s oldest pizza restaurant
and one of only two remaining pizza
and pipes restaurants in the country,
Organ Stop Pizza is not your average
pizza place thanks to its shining star
- the massive 1927 Mighty Wurlitzer
Theatre Pipe Organ!
The largest and most
valuable theater organ
in the world, the Mighty
Wurlitzer is worth more
than $6 million. The
Wurlitzer sits on the
top of an 8,000-pound
console, which controls
the 6,000-plus pipes,
numerous percussions,
countless traps and
lighting via 1,074
individual keys, buttons
and switches.
Each year, Organ Stop Pizza attracts
hundreds of thousands of partrons with
its theatrical performances complete
with light show, dancing cat puppets,
disco ball and bubbles. Songs range
nightly from classical music and Disney
favorites to pop and rock hits, there
is practically nothing the Organ Stop
Pizza musicians can't play.
Organ Stop Pizza
“The range of emotions our guests
experience when they hear the Mighty
Wurlitzer are infinite,” added Barz. “The
last two years have been remarkably
challenging for us, but when the world
feels unpredictable, coming together
and hearing music brings people
delight and comfort. We are proud
to carry on a 50-year tradition and
provide some escapism for our guests
night after night.”
ACTIVE
FAMILY
Come Experience the Experience!
As the first-ever Autism Certified
City, Mesa leads the way in creating
safe spaces. This matters to Kisha
Gulley, mother of a son with sensory
processing disorder — she knows what
it takes to keep active kids engaged
and how to navigate the world with a
special-needs child.
HOW DO YOU ADVOCATE FOR THE
AUTISM COMMUNITY?
I try to be for others what I didn’t have
in the beginning of this journey. I share
resources. I listen. I don’t claim to be
an expert, but I can point people in the
right direction.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST
ABOUT MESA?
The numerous activities for the entire
family. It can be hard to find places we
all enjoy, especially when you have a
child with special needs, but we feel so
comfortable here.
A must see (and hear) for every
visitor to the Valley of the Sun!
Organ Stop Pizza entertains all
generations, surrounding patrons
with the sights and sounds of the
largest Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe
Organ in the World!
1149 E Southern Ave
Mesa, AZ 85204
(480) 813-5700
OrganStopPizza.com
Our world class organists play
everything from Bach to rock,
while you dine on delicious pizza,
pasta, salad, soft drinks, beer
and wine. An Arizona institution
since 1972, Organ Stop is the Most
Entertaining Pizza in Town!
WHAT DOES MESA’S AUTISM
CERTIFICATION MEAN TO YOU?
It’s a game-changer. The certification
helps take away some of the stigma of
being a special-needs family.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE
PLACES IN MESA FOR KIDS?
Mesa Riverview Park and the
i.d.e.a. Museum.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
ARIZONA TO SOMEONE WHO’S
NEVER SEEN OUR DESERT
BEFORE?
Scenic drives with beautiful mountain
topography and an abundance of clear
skies and sunshine.
You can follow Kisha on Instagram
@PanamaKish and learn more about
her family at TheKishaProject.com.
KISHA GULLEY
CONTENT CREATOR, THE KISHA PROJECT
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