Tobin's Pizza

Tobin's Pizza, a family pizzeria in Bloomington since 1963

Tobin's Pizza is an establishment in Bloomington (Illinois) that makes pizza by hand and operates on a dine-in, carryout, and home delivery model. The company presents itself as a family business in the Bloomington-Normal area and notes that it has kept the same recipe since 1963. Its own communications state that it was voted the best pizza in McLean County.

Since the fall of 2010, the location has also incorporated the recipes of Micheleo's Pizza, a historic local brand, so that both menus are served under the same roof. The company describes this union as the sum of nearly a century of pizza history.

Two menus under one roof: Tobin's and Micheleo's

The business maintains two distinct menus. The Tobin's menu is built around a golden, medium-thickness crust—neither very thick nor paper-thin—made and stretched on site. On that base goes a sauce made from ripe tomatoes with mild seasoning and a buttery cheese baked until golden. Customers complete the pizza with the available toppings.

The Micheleo's offering focuses on two styles: thin crust and Chicago-style deep dish, the latter baked in a deep pan. The company highlights the use of generous portions of toppings and cheese in both varieties.

Preparation method

The company describes its own process for its deep-dish pizza. It starts with a bread-type dough, light and not pasty, which is completely covered with a proprietary cheese blend. On that base it places abundant portions of the chosen toppings and, finally, generous amounts of whole cooked tomatoes broken up. It adds a second layer of cheese and a touch of herbs and spices before baking in a deep pan. The company warns that the result is very filling and suggests starting with a small size. It also notes that its pizzas require a little more baking time than those of the competition.

The firm insists that its pizzas are made one at a time, with no fillers, always fresh, and never pre-cooked or frozen.

Delivery, carryout, and dine-in

Tobin's Pizza offers three options: dine-in, carryout, and home delivery. The company states that it operates the largest pizza delivery fleet in downstate Illinois and delivers both to homes and to various meetup locations arranged with the customer. Delivery is presented as fast and with the pizza hot.

History of Micheleo's Pizza

Micheleo's Pizza opened its doors on February 1, 1981, at four in the afternoon. According to the company's account, the sauce recipes for the thin and pan pizzas were developed just two hours before opening. The first location was in Normal, at 106 North Street, with a small staff and initial sales of only a few hundred dollars. In February 1984 the business moved to Bloomington, and in 1990 it opened a second location at 1012 South Main Street, which returned to Normal in 2003.

The original owners, Mike and Geri, sold Micheleo's in 2003. The establishment remained on North Street until the summer of 2010, when it closed temporarily due to complications. The founders reacquired it and sold it to Tobin's Pizza in the fall of 2010. Since then, Micheleo's has been served at the Tobin's Pizza location.

Customer profile and local recognition

The company defines itself as a neighborhood family business and mentions among its customers local families, students, and residents of Bloomington-Normal. Its communications include customer comments praising the pizza, the service, and the staff's attentiveness, and include references to family celebrations at the location. The company states that it was voted the best pizza in McLean County.

Location and contact

Phone: 309.454.4444