SCOTT GULLEDGE / Scroll
Stoddard Davenport, a local resident and a Craigo’s employee, prepares some pizza dough.

Craigo’s makes the slice, offers original creations

Tina Bosen BOS05003@BYUI.EDU Scroll Staff

Whose idea was it to put bacon on a Chicken Alfredo pizza? And who would want to eat something called the Hillbilly?

Ever heard of Craigo’s Pizza?

Many BYU-Idaho students know of Craigo’s, some maybe too well. Located less than a block off of campus, the pizza shop gets more than enough business from “starving students.” Male students have been seen leaving Craigo’s with a 2-liter of soda pop, and a large pizza heading toward the dorms.

Stoddard Davenport, manager of Craigo’s, said students are always coming around.

“Students come here on dates, for lunch, for breakfast; we’re very popular with the students,” Davenport said. Davenport started working at Craigo’s when Matt Smith became the owner in 2003. He became the manager 6 months ago.

Does he enjoy it?

“Yeah, it’s a fun job,” Davenport said. “There is a lot of room for creativity.”

One creative aspect of the restaurant is the names of the pizzas. How does that work? “Well, for example, look at Kenny’s Inferno pizza,” Davenport said. “Kenny Trent was hired at Craigo’s this spring. He created the pizza and got to name it.” The original name chosen by Kenny was “Kung Fu Ninja Butt-Kicker Deluxe.”

Davenport created a pizza too. It isn’t displayed yet but can still be ordered. It’s called Pizza de Gaillo. The special ingredients include fresh cilantro lime salsa, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, corn, black beans, cheddar and mozzarella cheese, and crushed yellow corn chips. Why didn’t Davenport name his creation after himself? “Stoddard doesn’t really make a good pizza name,” Davenport said.

Other specialty pizzas named after employees include Mindy’s Special and the Hillbilly. Davenport said pizza bombs, a whole pizza folded into a giant “hot pocket,” are popular. So what is the best seller? Craigo’s combo!

Speaking of Craigo’s pizza, the breadsticks are world famous, according to the sign. How can they be world famous when Craigo’s is only open in Rexburg? “A lot of students eat here, then go home to places all around the world,” Davenport said. “When they come back years later, they make it a point to come in and order some of their favorite breadsticks.”

Craigo’s also sells T-shirts that display slogans and signs. “NO SHOES, NO SHIRTS, NO PANTS, NO PROBLEMS, We Deliver!”

At 10 bucks apiece, the shirts make an inexpensive birthday present for pizza lovers. “That’s Matt’s department, the shirt creativity,” Davenport said.

Craigo’s opened another store inside of Broulim’s on Friday October 21, but they haven’t held the grand opening celebration yet.

Within the next couple of weeks, Rexburg can expect a celebration of pizza. Davenport said business is going fairly well at Broulim’s few people know about it. “We are doing better every day,” Davenport said.