Organ Stop Pizza: Mouthwatering Food and Angelic Music
The last thing that comes to mind when most people listen to Bach’s dramatic “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” is a mouthwatering slice of pepperoni pizza. Despite some pushback, seasoned organist, businessman, and pizza enthusiast William P. Brown always knew that pizza and organ music were highly compatible. In William P. Brown’s world, there was no reason that a pizza parlor couldn’t double as a grand concert hall.
In 1972, William P. Brown founded a pizza parlor in Phoenix, Arizona called Organ Stop Pizza which featured a massive theatre organ which was initially designed to provide music for silent films. Organists played classical music, showtunes, and pop hits such as “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder as patrons munched on 14-inch pizzas topped with sausage and cheese. Brown’s organ-centric pizza restaurant was a smash hit from day one.
By 1995, Organ Stop Pizza had moved to a roomier location in Mesa, Arizona. A giant organ which featured hundreds of keys and switches, 5 expression pedals, and a powerful piston system was installed in the new space. Nearly 3 decades later, an accomplished organist puts on a world-class performance nightly as audiences relax and enjoy their favorite combination of pizza toppings. Organ Stop Pizza’s decked out organ even features a few decorative flourishes, such as dancing cat puppets and a spinning disco ball.
Organ Stop Pizza proves that you don’t have to wake up early on Sunday morning to hear angelic organ music. If you want to hear some soul-stirring Bach, you can go out for pizza on a Saturday evening. Depending on the night, you may even be able to request a song. There’s a good chance that Organ Stop Pizza’s award-winning organists will be able to accommodate your request. Especially if it is from Star Wars or Phantom of the Opera.
Address:
1149 E Southern Avenue
Mesa, Arizona, 85204
United States
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Organ Stop Pizza, 1149 E Southern Avenue, Mesa, Arizona, USA
- Coordinates
- 33.392904, -111.807771
- Access
- Public dine-in restaurant and organ-performance venue during posted service hours. The operator says enter from E Southern Avenue about half a block west of Stapley Drive, or from Stapley Drive about half a block south of Southern Avenue. Music starts 30 minutes after opening. The operator accepts reservations for groups of 20 or more subject to availability; call ahead for those groups.
- Admission
- The operator says there is no cover charge for the organ performance and lists menu items à la carte, with food and drinks priced separately. No fixed admission ticket or set per-person meal price is published. The operator does not clearly say whether a purchase is required for guests who only want to listen, so confirm that point if you are not dining.
- Time needed
- There is no official visit-time limit. Allow about 1–2 hours as a flexible planning estimate if you want to dine and hear an organ set; this is not an operator rule. The operator says each set generally lasts 30–45 minutes, with 10–15-minute breaks. Dining, queues and how many sets you watch determine the actual stay.
- Best season
- No preferred visiting season is published. The organ and dining are indoors. The operator changes its opening times seasonally, so choose a date using the current operator schedule and check for special events.
- Opening hours
- Operator schedule checked October 10, 2026: regular hours through November 24 are Mon–Thu 4:00–8:30 p.m., Fri 4:00–9:00 p.m., Sat 3:30–9:00 p.m. and Sun 3:30–8:30 p.m. Winter hours start November 25: Mon–Thu 3:30–8:30 p.m., Fri 3:30–9:00 p.m., Sat 3:00–9:00 p.m. and Sun 3:00–8:30 p.m. The kitchen closes 30 minutes before the restaurant. Visit Mesa also shows the winter schedule as its general hours and lists the operator's summer schedule separately; use the operator's dated schedule for your visit and confirm before travel.
- Location checked
- 2026-10-10
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-10
Location
Use the zoom buttons or pinch to zoom. Use arrow keys to pan when the map is focused.
Interactive map loads when in view.
Explorer Passport
Next badge: Trail Scout
Unlocked after exploring 5 different unusual places.
0 of 5 places explored
Discover more from Unusual Places
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
