Colorado’s pizza restaurants number in the hundreds. The places hat have opened and then closed , also number in the hundreds. For one to last over five decades is a testament to how much locals love it.
Panhandler’s Pizza in Fort Collis Celebrates 50 Years in 2025
Imagine – The year is 1975: Gerald Ford is into his second year of being President, “Jaws,” was the movie everyone was going to see and talk about, The Eagles, Barry Manilow, Elton John, Chicago, and Hot Chocolate were topping the charts.
And a little pizza shop in Fort Collins was beginning a legacy.
Panhandler’s Pizza existed from 1975 to 2017 at 1220 West Elizabeth, near the CSU campus. The joint saw decades of students and locals coming through their doors to enjoy there pies to go, or to sit down at one of their tables with the classic red/white checkered tablecloths.
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In 2017, CSU’s growing enrollment brought on needing to tear down the location where Panhandler’s (and other businesses) was to bring in student housing. With that, it looked like Panhandler’s would disappear into The Choice City’s history books.
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But, instead of the owners just letting Panhandler’s go, they sold it all (trademark, recipes, procedures) to a longtime employee, Louann DeCoursey . DeCoursey re-opened Panhandler’s at a new location, across town at 2721 S College Ave, Unit 4B in March of 2018.
March of 2025 marked 50 years of Fort Collins ( and the country ) having Panhandler’s Pizza around, serving their unique Midwest Cross pizza (Mix of Detroit style and Chicago Style) pan-style pizzas, by the slice or as a whole pie…