In the early 1970s, after working seven days a week at a local pizza place for a few years, a young couple decided to strike out on their own. They convinced the owner of a local pub to let them convert an unused room into a small pizzeria.
That modest beginning sparked a beloved institution that has been serving up pizza, tacos and memories for more than 50 years in Savanna. The family-run institution captured the town’s attention and appetite — fueling five decades of pizzas, tacos and community spirit.
Manny Castro and Sharon Woodhurst (who were married at the time) were working at Hilda’s Pizza on Savanna’s Main Street when they had the idea to open their own business. “We were there seven days a week,” Manny says. “So, we thought, if we can do this for them, we can do for it ourselves. If it works, it works. If not, no big deal.”
When the pair went looking for a building to house their dream, they discovered the owner of Canavan’s Pub had an empty room.
“We said, ‘We got an idea that we’d like to start a little business; we’ll fix up that room, and you guys can have the bar part, and we’ll have the pizza part,’” Manny recalls. The owner took them up on the idea, and Manny ’s Pizza opened its doors, operating in the rented space for eight years.
Manny learned to make pizzas during high school while working shifts at Ballas Tavern. He and Sharon combined that experience with what they had learned at Hilda’s to create their signature thin crust pizza. Their original sausage, mushroom and onion pie remains a customer favorite, alongside “The Works” — a loaded pizza with sausage, mushrooms, onion, green peppers and pepperoni.
Soon after opening, tacos were added to the menu. “It was just something my mom used to make at home for us. She also used to make them for the railroad guys on Saturday nights at a place called Doc’s Tavern,” Manny says. “They really liked them, so when [Mom] asked, we said we’d give it a try.”
The pan-fried tacos, topped with homemade hot sauce made from tomatoes grown in Manny’s father’s garden, quickly became a weekend staple and a must-order item for regulars.
As the business grew, Manny and Sharon purchased two adjoining buildings on Main Street — the old Irish Inn and Hilda’s Pizza — giving them space to accommodate more customers and expand the menu. When customers began wanting appetizers, garlic bread and nachos were added — but the focus remained on their pizza and tacos.
Eventually, additional locations were opened in Fulton and Freeport to meet growing demand and ease the load on the original kitchen, bringing the flavor closer to fans across the region.
From day one, Manny’s has been family-run. Today, Manny and Sharon remain as co-owners, along with Sharon’s sister, Wendy Sipe. Their four daughters help manage and operate the Savanna and Fulton locations. Their son opened the doors in Freeport, which has since transferred to Sharon’s brother and run by his daughter.
Then came November 2010. A fire devastated the Savanna building — but just nine days later, Manny’s reopened in a former Happy Joe’s location, thanks to tireless family efforts and overwhelming community support.
“Without the community helping, we wouldn’t have been able to open,” Manny says. “And we have a big family who all pitched in, too,” added Wendy.
On March 1, 2012, Manny’s unveiled its rebuilt space, incorporating three additional storefronts. The new location, which is on JCE Co-op lines, seats more than 425 guests and includes a bar and the Fiesta Room, a banquet space for up to 225 people.
Over the years, Manny’s has evolved with the needs of the community and customer demands. After the fire, Manny’s introduced a lunch menu featuring sandwiches and mini pizzas.
“If you want to come by yourself, you don’t want to eat a 12-inch pizza,” Manny says. “You can order a mini pizza and an order of tacos, giving you the best of both worlds.”
New appetizers like mozzarella sticks, mini tacos and nachos were added, along with broasted chicken on Wednesdays and seasonal specials like Friday night fish. Patrons will also find more specialty pizza options, from taco, Hawaiian and BBQ to meat lovers, chicken bacon ranch and veggie.
The family says all the additions have helped keep them in business. Community members have raised their families on food from Manny’s. Their clientele has expanded, with regulars now coming from even an hour away.
Manny’s is a go-to spot for locals heading to and from sporting events. Coaches often call to order 10 large pizzas, and the buses swing by to pick up orders for hungry teams.
Manny’s Pizza has long supported local schools through share nights, donating a portion of proceeds to help area schools, their teams and organizations. “It’s a mutual relationship,” says Jessica Ervin, Manny and Sharon’s daughter. “Their support helped us succeed, and we’re committed to giving back.”
Over the years, the family has enjoyed watching their customers’ families grow. “We especially enjoy visits from those family members who live out of state,” Jessica noted, “and Manny always enjoys running into a former Savanna athlete or classmate.”
Of course, time brings change. “We’ve also lost some great family members and Manny’s Pizza family over the years,” Jessica adds. “It was tough, but we always got through it together — along with our staff, because our staff is part of our family. … Without the unwavering dedication of our staff, we couldn’t be where we are today.”
Looking back at those early days, Manny recalls, “When we first started out, we made eight or nine pizzas. [We] wondered, ‘Is this a mistake?’ But we knew people would come. It just took time.”
Five decades later, Manny’s Pizza is more than a restaurant — it’s a cornerstone of Savanna’s Main Street, built on family, flavor and the unwavering support of a community that made it all possible.
Manny’s Pizza
