Swing-In Pizza

Swing-In-Pizza is a Bloomington pizza restaurant that originally opened more than 50 years ago. It was originally located at 301 W. 17th Street. It is now located at 1280 N. College Ave. Swing-In focuses exclusively on delivery and carry-out.

Swing-In-Pizzas are typically of a thinner crust variety and are sliced in squares rather than wedges. The store emphasizes good, traditional pizzas with mushrooms and sausage rather than feta cheese and kalamati olives.

Swing-In Pizza has been in existence since 1961, when Homer Dyer opened the restaurant for business. Fred Rice bought the business in 1963, and ran it through much of the 1960's before selling the store to the Birchler Family. Eventually it became the Pizza Train and a few other names, before Rice repurchased the business in 1997.

A tradition of the shop is a hobo character on the pizza box who says the pizza is "Belly-Rubbin' Good!". Originally the boxes said "recommended by Fred Rice." When customers asked who Fred Rice was, they were told it was a hobo who got off a freight train and came into the shop. After trying the pizza he said "This is the best pizza I've had, and I've been all over the country!"

In 2004 Rice passed away, but his family kept the restaurant going. It is currently run by Fred Rice's wife Charlotte, and their sons Jeremiah Rice and Rocky Rice.

The pizzas are popular with many Indiana University athletes.

Hours: Sunday-Wednesday: 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., Thurs-Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight, 
Phone 330-0000.