DICK BARNES

A successful and innovative businessman, Dick had brought pizza to southern
Indiana by way of an Italian family he knew in his hometown of Richmond, Indiana. He studied the art of making “pizza pies” from Frank Mastro in New York City and returned to open the Pizzaria, which featured a display window where passersby could watch the pizza maker in action. It was a hit; people would drive hundreds of miles for this new cuisine. Once he became owner of Nick’s, pizza was delivered from the Pizzaria and Nick’s menu began taking shape.

Dick owned several more successful Bloomington establishments throughout the years, including the Pizza Barn, La Tortilla, Davy’s Locker, and Ye Olde Regulator — for which he received “National Tavern of the Year” two years running. Currently, he only has one baby — Nick’s.