history
pizza! college! beer!
At Woodstock’s, we don’t just serve pizza — we serve the ultimate pizza experience. Our dough is hand-tossed made fresh daily. Our sauce is a secret zesty recipe made from vine-ripe tomatoes picked and packed within 6hrs! We are most known for our signature crust that is folded over the sauce to lock in flavor with every bite. We don’t skimp on toppings! Load it up your way with over 25 toppings, 6 sauces, and 4 crusts. It’s pizza, totally customized — and totally unforgettable. This is not NY style pizza, it’s not Chicago Style, it’s not Detroit style, it’s Uniquely Woodstock’s Pizza.
Since 1980, we’ve been California’s iconic college-town pizzeria, now thriving in Chico, Davis, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Isla Vista, and San Diego. We’re all about good vibes, great food, and creating spaces where friends gather, pitchers flow, event nights get loud, and memories are made. Whether you’re a freshman or an alumni, this is your spot.
Grab a slice. Grab a brew, Grab a booth. Because core memories always start with exceptional pizza.
It was 1977…when Chuck Woodstock opened the first Woodstock’s Pizza near Oregon State in Corvallis, Oregon.
His goal was to create a fun, student-oriented pizzeria that dished up amazing pies using a unique, zesty marinara recipe. From the beginning he focused on fresh, hand-tossed dough with a unique folded-over crust with sauce inside. He insisted on putting more toppings on the pizza than any of his competitors, so you get a taste of every topping in each bite.He quickly gained a loyal following, and partnered with Mike Chew in 1980 to build their next restaurant.
The Isla Vista restaurant brought Woodstock’s signature pizzas and high-energy atmosphere to the UCSB community. It quickly became a staple of college life in IV.
Meanwhile back in Corvallis, Jeff Ambrose was a recent college grad without a full-time job. Delivering pizzas seemed like a good way to keep from starving. But it turned out to be much more than he expected.
read more
In 1982, Chuck and Chew traveled to Chico and took a look around the town and knew they had found exactly what they wanted. In fact, they were so excited about the location that Chuck bought the building right across the street from Chico State and named it Woodstock Plaza.
Woodstock’s Pizza opened in August of 1983 and it quickly became an institution in Chico.
read more
Chuck and Chew then partnered with Jeff to open a store near SDSU. Meanwhile, they worked on a new restaurant in Davis. The SDSU location introduced Woodstock’s to San Diego, becoming the gathering spot for students, locals, and late-night pizza runs.
read more
Sadly, Chuck and Chew passed away in a private plane crash in 1985, leaving the company in the hands of their family members. Eventually the families promoted Jeff to President of the company. In 2001, Jeff and his wife, Laura, purchased all five California restaurants. (The original Corvallis restaurant is solely owned by Chuck’s wife, Carol Lee Woodstock.)
Woodstock’s opened in Davis shortly after San Diego and the death of the original founders, bringing its legendary crust and student-driven energy with it.
read more
Six years after Jeff and Laura becoming owners of Woodstock’s they opened their first new location and found a new home in Santa Cruz, quickly becoming a favorite spot for students, locals, and surfers alike.
read more
In 2025 Jeff and Laura bought a new building on E Shaw ave. A building full of Fresno Lore that needed to be brought back to life! We are expecting to open up that location in 2027!
our mission
Our mission is to earn loyal customers and team members who uniquely regard Woodstock’s as
The Ultimate Pizza Experience.
- 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.
- Encourage our team members to work hard and have fun!
- Strengthen the communities we serve by giving back and fostering partnerships with local non-profit organizations.
- And always make sure you get the tastiest pizza around, any way you like it!
awards
in the Nation
California grown, fresh from the vine tomatoes are enhanced with a secret blend of spices to give Woodstock’s sauce a unique, zesty taste.
Our freshly baked crust has sauce inside.
planning a celebration?
Woodstock’s has you covered! Specializing in catering for groups up to 2,000 – both in-store and out. We’ll take care of the set-up, serving and clean-up.
