Congress lounge and pizza is a point of interest because it is one of the oldest businesses in town and had been handed down through the generations, it carries with it a lot of history not only of the town but the people not to mention the great pizza.

The Congress Legacy
 

In 1915 A. Louis Bonetti immigrated to the United States from Bergamo, Italy. He found work in the underground iron mines in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan near the Gwinn area. He decided to start a new life and raise his family here.

In 1919, the U.S. Congress passed its 18th Amendment – the Prohibition of Liquor. On February 20, 1933, the U.S. Congress passed the 21st amendment – the Repeal of Prohibition. Louis saw this as an opportunity and decided to apply for on of the first liquor licenses in Ishpeming. He received his license in 1934 and named his business in honor of the U.S. Congress.

Louis and Elivra had 4 children, 3 sons and 1 daughter. The two oldest, Angelo and Guida went to California in the 1940s and remained there. Guido and Geno remained at home and worked in the Congress.

In 1951 tragedy struck. In the words of the famous Ishpeming native and close friend of Louie, John Voelker, from Trout Madness, "A bullet from a deer rifle unerringly found its way into Louie's belly, he had mistaken for a deer. He died the next morning." Guido and Geno carried on the Bonetti tradition and operated the Congress just as their father would have wished them to do. The business remained intact.

In 1958 Guido and Geno made a decision that would literally change our city and the lives of generations to come: they went into the pizza business. The Congress soon became the place to be after high school games, skiing, town events and, of course, our friends after "shift work."

The 1960s also brought with them a whole new generation of customers – teenagers. After any home sporting event, kids from across the county would pack the place. Only standing room was guaranteed. It was at this time that Guido and his wife Rhoda's oldest sons, Mike and Bob, began working at The Congress on weekends. One night with "dad," one night with "Uncle Geno". The business was changing: wall-to-wall teenagers, Cokes, and pizza served with the secret sauce – spicy meat (cudighi) all spread over the homemade thin crust pizza.

Each decade brought changes to the area, and new high school customers to The Congress. The Empire Mine was going strong and the Tilden Mine had started up. The drinking age was lowered to 18. This brought a new generation to The Congress, more adults began frequenting the establishment, and the "divider" between the bar and the pizza booths was installed.

In 1979, Geno retired and Guido and Rhoda's third son came aboard full time. At this time, the business began changing again. New traditions started. Area friends who had moved and returned home came to get a pizza before seeing family.

In 1983, The Congress was remodeled, the bar overhang was added, and old pictures were hung on the walls. A new theme was established. Town history pictures and area youth photos started adding to the decor and the tradition.

Then came the "Roar of 84": the 100 year class reunion for Ishpeming! This was a major turning point in the history of The Congress. Because of the enormous reunion, people from all over the country came back to visit their alma mater. Youngest son Jim came back to work for a year to help with the celebration. And what did they miss most in their absence? Congress Pizza! For the first time, everybody came back at the same time they were magnetized to the "Congress Mystique." Another new tradition had begun – a tradition of coming back to Ishpeming, back home to those delicious pizzas.

The "Congress Mystique" was not lost on local residents. The early 1980s is also when many children's birthday parties took place. Lucky birthday girls and boys were able to wear Guido's bow tie and play one of the arcade games. The late 80s began the new generation of basketball – Class C –and the tradition of excellence lived on. Once again there was room only after every home game and a sense of home town pride was everywhere, especially when one entered The Congress. The tantalizing aroma of Congress pizza lured people in from as much as a block away.

A medium 12" pizza is $7.50. A large 14" pizza is $8.50. The cheese is 100% Mozzarella. Any additional topping its $1.50, you can choose from any combo of home made Cudighi and/or Pepperoni, mushrooms, green pepper, onions, jalapeno peppers, black olives, anchovies, and fresh tomatoes.

Menu

Pesto Pizza
2-Cheese Basil Pesto Sauce 12" $9.50 and 14"- $10.50

Pizza Fries
12"-$ 8.00 14" $9.00

Top Cheese
If you really love cheese, try Top Cheese - $2.50 extra

Cudighi Sandwich - $5.00

All of the above information was taken with permission from the Congress menu.

Now that Guido Bonetti has passed away, his son Paul has assumed his role as informal local historian. If you show any interest in Ishpeming, he'll tell you a lot. The walls are decorated with a museum's worth of local lore, about John Voelker, hometown sports, mining, and more. Paul created the interesting, revealing scrapbook on the making of Anatomy of a Murder (for sale for about $15). It reproduces his aunt's newspaper clippings from 1959, alongside interviews with John Voelker's widow shortly before her death.
.R. M-28 in downtown Ishpeming. Parking in rear off Bank. Hours of operation Open Tues-Sat 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Sun-Mon4-midnight. Handicap accessible: rear entrance. One step in front. Family friendly. Full bar.