On June 26, Pinky G’s Pizza will celebrate 15 years of serving slices, creating memories and cementing itself as a Jackson Hole institution.
What began as a shoestring-budget dream in the basement of The Pink Garter Theater has grown into one of the most beloved pizza brands in the mountain West, with locations stretching from Jackson to Victor, Big Sky and Bend. But at its heart, Pinky G’s remains what it has always been: a gathering place fueled by great pizza, live music, loyal locals, and a whole lot of hard work.
We caught up with owner Tom Fay to reflect on the journey…
Building a Pizza Shop One Brick at a Time
When Fay signed the lease in October 2010, the future home of Pinky G’s wasn’t exactly move-in ready.
“The previous tenant vandalized the space, requiring significant work,” Fay recalls.
Armed with a vision for a New York-style pizza joint complete with exposed brick walls, live music and Open Mic Nights, Fay got to work. Operating on a tight budget, he tackled much of the renovation himself.
“I paid a lot of my friends in PBRs,” he laughs. “Upes [Brian Upesleja/Oops I Need Help] was a huge help during those renovation days.”
The pizzeria was conceived alongside friend and business partner Dom Gagliardi, who was simultaneously developing the music venue upstairs at The Pink Garter Theater and building out The Rose.
“The idea was to create a place where people could grab a slice before or after concerts,” says Fay.
Fifteen years later, it’s safe to say the concept worked.
Perfecting the Slice
While Pinky G’s is now synonymous with New York-style pizza, the original menu was much larger.
“We had chicken parm, meatball parm, Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef, eggplant parm—you name it,” says Fay.
But as sales rolled in, one thing became obvious. “Pizza was accounting for about 85 percent of our business.”
The menu evolved, becoming more focused and allowing the team to concentrate on what they do best. Even the dough recipe wasn’t an overnight success.
“It took nearly two years of tweaking before we landed on the recipe we still use today.”
Enter: The Abe Froman
Every great pizzeria has a signature pie, and Pinky G’s has one with a particularly memorable backstory. Fay wanted to create a pizza featuring spicy Italian sausage, fresh buffalo mozzarella, basil and balsamic reduction. The recipe was ready, but the name wasn’t.
Then, just days before opening, he watched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
“I decided to name it The Abe Froman after the Sausage King of Chicago.”
Fifteen years later, the Abe Froman remains one of Pinky G’s most popular specialty pies and a favorite among longtime customers.
A Presidential Pizza Stop
Over the years, Pinky G’s has welcomed its fair share of famous faces. Harrison Ford, Sandra Bullock, Guy Fieri and, according to local lore, even Lenny Kravitz and Young Jeezy have stopped in for slices. But one visit stands above the rest.
“The most memorable was when President Joe Biden stopped in with his family when he was Vice President,” says Fay. The Secret Service arrived the day before to inspect the restaurant. “They were actually really cool and ended up sitting down to have some pizza too.”
More Than Pizza
Ask Fay what he’s most proud of after 15 years, and the answer isn’t the awards, the expansion or the celebrity sightings; It’s the people.
“The most rewarding part of owning Pinky G’s is the amazing community that surrounds us and the incredible staff we’ve had throughout the years.”
Jackson has changed dramatically since 2011, but Pinky G’s has remained a constant.
“A lot has changed around Jackson Hole, but we still feel the love from all over town.”
That sense of community extends behind the counter as well.
“We’re like a family,” says Fay. “We work hard, play hard, try hard and are always continuing to learn.”
Many employees return season after season, and several members of the current team have been with Pinky G’s for nearly half of the restaurant’s existence. A handful have been there since the very beginning.
“I’m really lucky to have this team and can’t thank them enough for everything we’ve been through over the past 15 years.”
Looking Ahead
The road hasn’t always been smooth. In recent years, uncertainty surrounding the restaurant’s lease created challenges while the building changed ownership. Thankfully, the future is secure.
“We were able to secure another 15 years.”
As for additional locations beyond Jackson, Victor, Big Sky and Bend, Fay isn’t rushing anything.
“I’ll wait for it to happen organically. That’s how all the other locations have come about.”
For now, his focus remains on continuing to serve great pizza and supporting the communities that have supported Pinky G’s for the last decade and a half.
Join the Celebration
Pinky G’s will celebrate its 15th anniversary the week of June 22–26 with limited-edition anniversary merchandise, including T-shirts, hats and koozies. The shop will also offer a 15% discount to every 15th guest, along with live music, DJs and plenty of pizza-fueled festivities leading up to the official anniversary on June 26.
A Final Thank You
As Pinky G’s enters its next chapter, Fay remains grateful for the people who helped make it happen.
“Most importantly, I’d like to thank my family for all their love and support. And my friends who stopped by to check in on me while I was pulling 16-hour days during that first year.”
Fifteen years later, Pinky G’s has become much more than a pizza shop. It’s a Jackson Hole landmark built on friendship, perseverance, community, and, of course, a really good slice. So let’s raise a slice (and a PBR) and celebrate 15 years of Pinky G’s!
