After much anticipation, Broadway Pizza has officially opened its newest location in Hastings at 909 Vermillion Street, filling a void left behind by the long-running Green Mill. The new restaurant brings with it a fresh, family-focused energy, a commitment to consistent quality, and a menu that stretches well beyond its iconic thin crust pizza. Dean Hanson, Chief Operating Officer of Broadway Pizza, sat down to share what locals can expect from this vibrant addition to the community.

Hanson says the excitement has been building since the first whispers of Broadway Pizza coming to town.
“The buzz in Hastings has been really exciting,” he said. “Ever since Green Mill closed, people have been hoping for something new to take its place. We hope to be that place.”

A local legacy, expanded
Broadway Pizza is no stranger to Minnesota. With 13 locations across the Twin Cities and one in Rochester, the company has built a strong reputation for its signature thin crust pizza, proprietary sausage and sauce recipes, and consistent quality. Hanson emphasized the importance of being reliable, saying, “As a franchise, you have to make sure that people know what they’re going to get, no matter where they go. Our product has to be repeatable.”

But while pizza is the backbone of Broadway’s identity, it’s far from the whole story. The menu includes a wide array of choices that appeal to all tastes.
“We’ve got Asian flavors, Mexican flavors, tacos, chicken wings, nachos, and some of the best desserts you’ll find anywhere,” Hanson said. “Our deep-dish cookies with ice cream are a game changer.”

Renovations with a purpose
The new Hastings location occupies the space that Green Mill called home for two decades. Rather than completely overhaul the layout, Broadway Pizza chose to enhance and modernize the atmosphere while preserving the comfortable feel that longtime customers appreciated.

“We wanted to make it more open and inviting,” Hanson explained. “We took down some of the old wood cabinetry around the bar and replaced it with big TVs—four 65-inch screens on each side of the bar. In total, there are 20 TVs in the restaurant. You can see just about anything from anywhere in the building.”

Functionality was a major consideration in the renovation. A new wall was added in front of the kitchen to keep heat in the back and air conditioning in the front. New flooring was installed, and the kitchen underwent a serious upgrade to accommodate Broadway’s high pizza volume.
“We had to bring in larger pizza ovens, which meant cutting a hole in the wall and putting in a larger hood,” Hanson said. “We just couldn’t make it work with what was there before.”

Despite these major updates, the process moved quickly. After scouting the location nearly two years ago, construction began in earnest around January and early February. Considering the scope of the renovation, the timeline was swift.

More than just dinner
Broadway Pizza in Hastings is more than just a place to grab a slice. Hanson and his team are focused on creating a lively, community-driven environment. That means introducing fun extras like pull tabs, electronic tabs, bingo nights, and even digital racing games that mimic horse races, but with rubber ducks and other fun characters. The pull tabs will benefit Hastings Hockey.
“Not many restaurants around here have that,” Hanson said. “It’s interactive and a lot of fun. It does really well at some of our other locations, especially Rochester.”

Meat raffles and additional bingo events are also on the horizon, likely to roll out later in the year. These community activities are designed to make Broadway Pizza not just a restaurant, but a gathering place where families, friends, and sports fans alike can come together and enjoy themselves.

“We’re a family restaurant first,” Hanson said, while acknowledging that their upgraded bar area also caters to the sports bar crowd. “We want everyone to feel comfortable here.”

A long-term commitment
For Hanson and the Broadway Pizza team, Hastings isn’t just another dot on the map. They see it as a community where they want to stay and grow for decades to come.
“We don’t open restaurants to close them a few years later,” Hanson said. “We’re here for the long haul.”

That mindset is built on a foundation that stretches back more than 70 years. Broadway Pizza has been serving customers since 1953, and their mission has remained the same—deliver great food with consistent quality and a welcoming environment.

Visit Broadway Pizza Hastings
The new Broadway Pizza is now open at 909 Vermillion Street. You can check out the full menu and learn more at broadwaypizza.com or give them a call at 651-346-1234.

With something for everyone—from crispy thin crust pizza to decadent desserts and live bingo—the new Broadway Pizza aims to become a local favorite in Hastings. Whether you’re dropping in with the kids, catching a game at the bar, or just craving a deep-dish cookie and ice cream, the doors are open and the ovens are hot.