They wanted a location near San Diego State, and they found just what they were looking for -- in an old Laundromat! It took months of hard manual labor, and then more months to install the tongue-in-groove cedar and wood booths that have become synonymous with Woodstock’s. They opened in the spring of 1985.

Chuck and Chew, with Jeff as their General Manager and co-owner, began with a simple formula that continues to this day. They wanted to create a fun, student-oriented atmosphere, and to offer classic pizzas that surpassed anything they’d tried elsewhere. One of Chuck’s innovations was to put sauce in the folded-over crust. He also insisted on putting more toppings on the pizza than any of his competitors did. Ideally, you should get a taste of every topping in each bite of a Woodstock’s pizza. Sadly, Chuck and Chew passed away in a private plane accident in 1985, but their legacy continues at Woodstock’s.

The ownership of Woodstock’s was split among Chuck and Chew’s family members, and in 1990, they promoted Jeff to President of Woodstock’s Pizza in California. In 2001, Jeff and Laura Ambrose purchased Woodstock’s from the Woodstock and Chew families. So Jeff, who began as Chuck’s delivery driver in Corvallis, ultimately became owner of all five California Woodstock’s.

Although the ownership has changed, the founding principles remain the same. The dough is still handmade each day, we still use Chuck’s secret sauce recipe, we insist on using the freshest ingredients available, we still load on the toppings, and we teach every employee to make each pizza as if it were for their best friend.

Since the very beginning Woodstock’s has had a policy of supporting numerous campus and community organizations by hosting fundraisers in our restaurant. Through the years, we’ve given away thousands of dollars to local nonprofit groups. We also encourage group business, knowing that pizza is a great way to eat together. And with our longevity and ties to San Diego State, we now have tens of thousands of Woodstock’s alumni who still make it a point to visit us whenever they’re in town.

Look at the carving on the walls and the booths and you’ll see lots of names from the past. We can even take credit for some marriages that got their start in Woodstock’s!

• A sixth store, in Davis, was opened in 1986.

Our mission is to earn loyal customers and team members who uniquely regard Woodstock’s as the Ultimate Pizza Experience.

To earn the distinction of being the Ultimate Pizza Experience we will:

• Prepare every customer’s meal with individual attention.
• Use the freshest, best tasting ingredients.
• Consistently create outstanding, unique pizzas and accompaniments that are widely-regarded
   as the best ever, anywhere!
• Treat each and every customer with friendliness, respect and courtesy.
• Provide outstanding value that keeps customers returning with uncommon frequency.
• Be recognized as a fun and outstanding place to work.
• Provide a fun-filled festive atmosphere.

Woodstock’s will encourage our team members to work hard and have fun.

Woodstock’s will be regarded as a reputable, well-run company by all of our business partners and team members.

Woodstock’s will strengthen and give back to the communities we serve by fostering partnerships with local non-profit organizations.

With our history in San Diego, we have tens of thousands of Woodstock’s “alumni” who continue to seek out Woodstock’s when they’re back in their old college stomping grounds. In addition, we have thousands of loyal community members who continue to frequent Woodstock’s and recommend us to newcomers.

Many people have taken the time to thank us over the years, as well as share their favorite Woodstock’s memories with us. Below are just a few:

"Best pizza in Southern California. Your quality has not changed since I started eating your pizza. As a matter of fact I feel that you have taken pizza quality to a whole new level. The branding of your business is very clean and thorough, from your menu to your website."

--Delia Inzunza

[We use] Woodstock's peel-a-deal cards to raise money for my student groups. This money helps pay for our competitions at regionals/nationals be it the American Marketing Association (AMA) in New Orleans or the American Advertising Federation-National Student Advertising Competition in Fresno (regional) or Louisville (nationals). I've probably raised over $10,000 through selling these cards the last five years, so it's really helped send additional students to the various collegiate competitions. I hope you continue to use this program as it's been very successful here in Chico.
--Bill McGowan American Marketing Association (AMA)

RE: Here comes North County - Birthday crowd coming....
Everything was wonderful! The staff were great and all my guests had a great time! Thank you once again for being a great place to spend my birthday each year!!
–Deirdre Wallace

You guys make amazing salads. They´re huge!!
–Jen, San Luis Obispo

I have yet to have a bad experience at Woodstocks with either the service or the food. Keep up the good work!
–K Hofheinz, Lemon Grove, CA

The Brother Tom´s salad was excellent. Best mix of greens of any pizza place. Great food. I´ll be ordering from Woodstock´s again.
–Bill

Thanks for always having consistently great pizza. We are looking forward to seeing your new location.
–by email

We ordered last week and were so impressed we ordered again today. Last time we had side orders of Wildebread and Cinnabread - they were both excellent. We didn´t have time to eat them today so didn´t order but will again!
–by email

The girls working the counter showed the enjoyed being there. Occassinally, you could hear them singing. It made for a light and enjoyable atmosphere.
–by email

Salads were huge. Almost didn´t need pizza. But that wasn´t an option. We loved the pizzas.
–by email

I love your pizza and ate a lot of it when I attended college at UCSB. I was overjoyed when I moved to San Diego and discovered there was a Woodstock´s here. Keep up the great work, your pizza ROCKS!
–by email

ALWAYS GREAT pizza
–by email

Your pizza is by far the best in San Diego.
–by email

I like the new location and hope that it works well for you.
–by email

The food was great.
–by email

excellent service and excellent food. great job!
–by email

Love your pizza!
–by email

I was very pleased about how polite your delivery people were and I was impressed at at how the pizza was hot when it arrived.
–by email

Good service and great food.
–by email

My family and I love the food at your restaurant.
–by email

Great pizza! It was the second time we got delivery in one week from Woodstock´s.
–by email

Asian chicken salad was very good!! We love Woodstocks!!!
–by email

i love your pizza. it is my favorite since moving to sd. i ysed to be a roundtable lover, but there are none easy to find. i always eat yours
–by email

Good pizza. Good service. Thanks.
–by email

great pizza, love the crust
–by email

I wanted to tell you what a wonderful place you have My son and I really had a great time in your establishment. All of your staff made the experience truly fun and the food is superb!

I'm a father who really appreciates a clean and well organized, as well as fun place to take my child where I can feel at ease that the food will be fresh and prepared in a clean environment and the staff friendly and most helpful. I am writing you this letter to tell you that there is no place like yours in all of San Diego. I live in the Rolando village, just two blocks from you restaurant.

My wife and son, as well as my self have made Woodstock Pizza a regular stop in our very busy lives because of the excellent food, staff and service we have received. We recommend your restaurant to all our friends, family and coworkers. So keep up the great job your already doing and be sure to tell your staff how much there efforts are appreciated by the people they serve.

THANK YOU and may god bless you all.

Mr. & MRS. DAVID SHARP & SON

Garlic Bird!!!
The Garlic Bird on wheat is the best pizza I have ever tasted in my life! My taste buds actually CRAVE it!!!!!!! you have to try it!!!!
–rocksista1

Changed???
This place is still one of the yummiest pizza joints over by the college area. The pizza is delish and the salads are refreshing. The employees are still your local students. Despite them changing the croutons for the salads, it's definitely a must when your in the mood for pizza and your near the place. I still go over to the inland once in a blue moon, just to have thier wild bread with cheese and the brother tom salad.
–toratora27

Lunch deals are in effect 11AM-3PM , after which the dinner "Real Deals" go into effect. Choose from four deals with pizzas of varying sizes, bottomless drinks and either a salad, cheesy Wildebread or Cinnabread. Choose between white or wheat crust, and garlic, pesto or regular sauce. For dessert, Woodstock 's fresh-made frosted Cinnabread can be topped off with apples and/or almonds. For those of age, alcohol is served. Happy hour happens two times a day, from 2-6PM and 9PM - midnight . Local beers available are Stone Pale Ale, Karl Strauss and Arrogant Bastard Ale. A pint during happy hour is only $2.50; for Coors Light or Bud, you pay a collegiate $1.50.
–Tara Machado

When I was younger I lived across the street and to the left (over there by the 7-11 on Amherst) and when Woodstocks was finally finished, we always ordered from there. All through Jr. High, High School, and while I went to SDSU, I remained a Woodstocks fanatic. I got a job (at Cal State Univ San Marcos) and moved up here to San Marcos and still I would return down to San Diego every month or so to partake and then order extra to bring back up for my fellow Woodstock fans. The second date I had with my now husband was a trip down there to have Woodstocks, to introduce him to Woodstocks. I've moved all around North County and still return to San Diego to have Woodstocks. I celebrated my 30th birthday almost 2 years ago down there at Woodstocks (my co-workers and friends caravaned down to have the best pizza in San Diego county).
–Deirdre Wallace

Liberal studies senior Shana Nickols said she comes to Woodstock's for the good food. "The food is wonderful. (They) have the best pizza in San Diego," she said. –SDSU Daily Aztec

"Great pizza!"
–San Diego’s Happiest Hours

If you would like to share your Woodstock’s experience, click here.