Pinocchio’s Italian Restaurant is reopening on Campus Corner in late 2022 after being closed since 2001. The restaurant originally opened in 1972 in Stubbeman Village by Glen Woods, serving breadsticks, pizza, spaghetti and salads. Woods closed the restaurant in 2001 when he realized he wanted to pursue a teaching career in music. He graduated from OU in 1969 with a degree in music education, according to The Oklahoman. 

Norman local Michael Nash is partnering with Woods in reopening at a new location. Nash said he was ordering breadsticks from a local pizza place in Norman when he realized he missed Pinocchio’s breadsticks. “I got online to see where the closest Pinocchio’s was, and that’s when I found out it wasn’t a franchise,” Nash said.