TAKEN FROM THE EDEN PRAIRIE NEWSPAPER

Quality and customer service are keys

Gina Maria's Pizza has been serving Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Hopkins, Chanhassen and Excelsior since 1975. Since than there has been years of extraordinary success and extraordinary pizza.

"We didn't do anything special when we opened," recalled owner Glen Olson. "We wanted to ease into things and let the pizza speak for itself."

But from the very first day, Gina Maria's Pizza was creating loyal customers who came back time and again for that unforgettable taste.

As for the pizza speaking for itself, there's only one word that's called for: "Bellissimo!"

Quality and customer service are the priorities at Gina Maria's Pizza, and the proof of that is those loyal customers who continue to make Gina Maria's Pizza their stop for custom-made pizzas unlike any you can find anywhere else.

Quality means a pizza made with dough and sauce made fresh daily, made with real cheese (and plenty of it), made with fresh generous toppings - a pizza made with the care that comes from commitment to quality.

"I can't tell you how many times I've told customers that their pizza is made especially for them, "said Olson. "Customers have always come first at Gina Maria's. We listen to them.

"We enjoy what we're doing, and they see that."

As to service, Olson notes: "We didn't invent the word, but we sure think we know what it means. Many times I've called our customers on the phone and talked pizza with them. They love it!"

It's easy and convenient to get a Gina Maria's Pizza. In Eden Prairie, Gina Maria's is located at 7416 Mitchell Road (call 937-1589) serving Eden Prairie, Chanhassen. And the original Gina Maria' Pizza in Minnetonka is located in the Glen Lake area (call 933-5735) serving Minnetonka, Hopkins, Excelsior area.

Gina Maria's Pizza, said Olson, is "Old World Pizza, baked on stone as it should be, and made with a sauce that sets it apart from other pizzas." And those who try Gina Maria's Pizza can tell the difference.

A woman came in once, "Olson said, "and asked us for some frozen pizzas to send to San Francisco for her son. He just had to have a Gina Maria's Pizza!"

If you don't know Gina Maria's Pizza, that's something you can correct. But you probably know Glen Olson: He's been a radio announcer in the Twin Cities for more than 20 years, and now works at WLTE(FM 103).

But it's Steve Olson, Glen's son, who really is the mainstay of Gina Maria's. Steve is responsible for the recipes and for the general operation of the business.

"He's always telling me that the best thing about Gina Maria's Pizza is that it's custom-made, not mass produced, "Glen Olson says. "And he keeps the operation running smoothly-he's our trouble shooter."

"We've always offered the best products available and always offered it at a fair price," said Glen Olson. "We don't have any gorillas waving or any cutesy name for pizza. People are serious about their pizza, and we're serious about making it."

"We're the pizza experts for you," said Olson, "whether it's a big party up into the hundreds, or maybe just one person at home.

Join the growing number of people who call Gina Maria's Pizza for lunch. Gina Maria's serves lunch between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and customers can call to order lunch after 9 a.m. Other hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.