This website chronicles the Village Inn Pizza Challenge, a quest to eat at all of the Village Inn Pizza Parlors currently in operation within the period of 1 year.
When I began the challenge, in the fall of 2007, there were 12 locations in operation, although sadly some of those have now closed (although there are a couple new ones now open to balance that out)
I did complete the challenge in under a year, finishing in July 2008. I wonder if I may be the first to do so, outside of perhaps VIP owners and management who may have made the rounds professionally? And I boldly doubt that there will not be many who will reach my level now - due to the disappearance of many OGVIPs - Salisbury and Raleigh already gone by 2008, and now in 2023 we have lost OGVIP1 in Statesville (2022), as well as the newer VIP Conover (sometime 2009-ish?) Below is my travel journal from that wonderful year.
Thursday Sept 20, 2007
Can anyone deny the deliciousness of Pizza??? I think not. And we all know, some pizzas are much, much, much better than others...and what makes a pizza experience all the better? Why the perfect blend of ambiance, location, savory pizzas, a pizzert or two, choice beverages, and a good salad bar... Soooooo, what fits the bill? I'm screaming VIP, baby...that's right, Village Inn Pizza...quite frankly one of the best pizzas ever (and those who know me, and know of my deep fondness for those savory pies, know that's a BOLD statement which I do not make lightly) It's all about the perfect harmonious blend of sauce, crust, and cheese. Toppings are really secondary - any pizza joint can pile a bunch of fancy stuff on a pizza and call it "gourmet". However, as we all know, the true measure of the quality of a pizza parlor comes through the careful evaluation of its plain cheese pizza. Nothing to hide behind, just the 3 ingredients, delicately balanced, shining forth.
grew up in Salisbury, and had many fond experiences at the Innes St location...made better by the fact that in the early 90s that was the place to be, and I knew many of the employees...and had frequented the Raleigh restaurant while at NCSU as well...but it was only after several tasty lunch buffets at the Hickory location, and chance lunches when I found myself in Morganton, and then later Taylorsville, that I began to formulate the VIP Challenge...Their cup tantalized me with a veritable to-do list of all the VIPs...Soon I knew - I had to eat at ALL of them!!! And thus the challenge was born, in my own mind at least...So from the cup, I see that there are 11 active VIPs to collect, and I have 3 of them so far...possibly 4 if the Salisbury VIP is the one I'm thinking of out 70...BUT I also snagged 2 VIPs no longer with us - the Raleigh and Salisbury Innes St locations...so, 6 down, 8 to go!!!! the race is on!!!
Saturday, October 20, 2007
VIP update - Viewmont
Can't forget this one - it's been on my local list for a while - I was saving it for a special occasion... and I must say it was worth it! Great VIP style, classic VIP architecture, and A+ on the cheese pizza and salad bar!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Long had she beckoned me - her siren's song calling to me from the side of Highway 77 northbound...I knew of her, but was always too busy to stop for a visit - it just wasn't convenient, and so lonely she languished there...but still I would gaze longingly at her mountain chalet architecture, peaked roof, and stone chimney... until today...but let's back up, to tell of the twists and turns that led up to the special moment... I still had 5 VIPs on my list to visit...but they're all out of immediate-lunch range...but I was excited last Friday to find my business would take me back to Taylorsville, which I've visited, but didn't get a picture. Well, imagine my pleasant surprise yesterday to find that I had additional business in Statesville, and right around lunchtime!!! And it would bring me right down highway 64, immediately past the mysterious unseen VIP...so I bring my appetite, and pull up into the parking lot, mouth watering...hmmm, looks kinda empty...what?!?!?! A sign on the door tells of remodeling, new kitchens, and the like...but what about now??? Well, I've come too far, and too hungry, to turn back now, so I quickly formulate plan B. I skip ahead to my 3rd client, in East Statesville, only a mile or two from 77...by the time I finish, I'm famished...and wind my way through twisting access roads to what my receipt refers to as VIP1! (Although I'm a little confused since it didn't open until December 1967, whereas the Hickory Highway 70 VIP opened in August '67)... So there you have it - another notch on my virtual VIP belt. :) I sat in the main dining room, with a scenic fireplace view...but can't wait to go back and sit in the creekside addition. :) 4 to go...
Friday, November 30, 2007
In Raleigh...ah the good old Gourmet factory???
hmmmm, wait a minute... ah ha!!!
:) it's XOGVIP-RAL!!! :) too funny that the sign is still there...I can't remember when I ate there last, but it was well into the late 90s, possibly even the early 2000's... :) and no, I didn't even go inside to see what the Gourmet Factory was all about...maybe next time...
Monday, December 3, 2007
Well, since I'm tracking down the XVIPs from long ago, and only had 1 other one that I can recall at which I dined in the past, here it is, the one that started it all for me, and probably Rob, and others - From Salisbury NC, it's the Honey Baked Ham store... :( bah - what a turkey... sadly enough, this site of many memories, now turned into this...and I peeked in the window, and they even took out the fireplace. :( oh well...
best I can recall last eating there was around 1999 I believe... we'll miss you, XOGVIP-SAL!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Well ok, I said no pics of the nonOGVIPs but I figured I might want to provide a little documentation... Hit the Conover VIP yesterday...I think it's the baby of the bunch. No Grand Opening plaque, but the framed first dollar was from 3/27/2006...lacking the OG architecture, but I was stoked that the decoration was framed black and white pics of the other VIPS, including some nice shots... Pizza was outstanding - extra saucy, just like I like it...salad bar was A- (no broccoli)...and they got bonus points for having 2 different pizzerts up - unlike the standard 1. So, that leaves 3 left - Mooresville, N Wilkesboro, and Statesville #2, currently undergoing kitchen renovations... still on pace to get them all done soon. :) plus I need to get pics at the other 2 OGs - Lenoir & Taylorsville...
Friday, December 14, 2007
blue ribbon OGVIP week - although I didn't add any new ones, I did eat at 2 of the "rarer" OGVIPs - Monday at Lenoir, and today at Taylorsville...still no pics from lenoir, because I haven't been there in the VIP Pressmobile, but I did get a couple from Taylorsville today, which incidentally turns 35 tomorrow - grand opening on December 15th, 1972! :) Oh yeah, the Lenoir one is from July 1 1974.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Well, I'd eaten at the Lenoir OGVIP (opened July 1, 1974) before, but never been in the Pressmobile...so here it is, without furthur ado, the 5th and final (known to me) OGVIP:
and this one looked kinda cool:
Thursday, Feb 21, 2008
no new notches on the ol' culinary napkin-belt, but since I had the crew cab today at work, thought I'd do a photo stop after a delicious salad bar & hot cheese VIP special! :)
Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 4:33 pm
Well it's been a while, but I finally added another check mark to the list on Tuesday the 25th - had a lovely buffet at Statesville #2... Smile yay...that's the one that was down for renovations when I went by months ago, and I just don't get down that way often...
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 4:12 pm
Well, I *saw* the Mooresville VIP today...after having it on the list for months, I finally had clients down that way today, scheduled everything perfectly...rolled up at 11:45, and ARGHHHHHHHH!!!!! Once again another one down for remodeling...I can't believe it - that's two different ones...man...oh well, I'm sure in another few months I'll be back again...sigh...
Friday, May 30, 2008 3:13 pm
Another notch!
I was way up north in Alexander county today, and made a special plan to duck up about 12 miles or so into Wilkesboro for lunch... tasty as usual, and man, they were busy... 2 to go!!! :)
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Countin down!!!!! ONE to go!!!! Hit up the brand new (opened this past March) VIP Bethlehem...
now to get back to Mooresville in the near future!!! :)
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
break out the trumpets!!! Today is the day!!!
Could it be???The VIP Pressmobile in front of the elusive Mooresville VIP???
And is that an open sign in the window???
Then victory is mine, Trebek! V for Victory, and also 11 for the 11 VIPs listed on the to-go cup. (which I guess I need a picture of) I'm saving my historical to-go cup from today, and will make the final check mark on it.
And finally, in tribute, I drove by OGVIP #1 Statesville on the way home...
here I am passing by on 77, in the VIPPM
How wonderful...now I need to write everything up all formally and put it on a web page for the world to see! And although I can't find the official start date of the VIP Challenge, I'm 99% sure I completed it within a year as planned.
:)
