Zeno's Pizza - More than Pizza, a Marshalltown Tradition
Posted
on Monday, May 11, 2026
in
Small Business Spotlights
Zeno's Pizza - More than Pizza, a Marshalltown Tradition
Zeno’s Pizza has been part of Marshalltown’s story since 1952, when it first introduced thin, crispy.jpg)
Chicago tavern-style pizza to the community. A few years later, Elmer “Zeno” Kluck put his name on the door, creating what would become a local legend and a place for “first dates and rehearsal dinners, post-game celebrations, birthday parties and retirement toasts.”
Today, owners Aaron and Michele Buzbee continue that legacy after the torch was passed by Terry and Jan Kluck in 2013. Their decision to take over Zeno’s was about more than opportunity. After living in Des Moines for several years, Aaron felt drawn back home. “I felt a calling to come back and try to make a positive impact in Marshalltown,” he shared.
After taking over, and with deep respect for the restaurant’s history, their approach remains simple: “Keep the pizza the same. Protect the character. Honor the history. Because you don’t reinvent an institution, you care for it.”
For Aaron, the passion for pizza started early. “When I was 15-years-old making pizza with my uncle, I first had the thought to own a pizzeria,” he said. That passion still drives him today. “I’ve likely made thousands of pizzas and I still get excited when I pull that perfect pie out of the oven.” That same passion extends into the community, where Zeno’s continues to be “the place to celebrate some of life’s milestones, make memories with friends and loved ones, or just a great pizza on a Tuesday night.”
Building relationships has been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey. “We’ve had the privilege of meeting some of the most genuine friends and folks anyone could ask for.” The support from the community in this new era of Marshalltown, along with the opportunity to serve “the best pizza in the state,” continues to drive Zeno’s success.
The Buzbees noted that their journey as entrepreneurs has come with its share of unique challenges, often requiring creative financial solutions. From startup funding to reinvestment and even navigating the uncertainties of a pandemic, they shared that United Bank & Trust has been “alongside us every step of the way,” adding, “I am certain that we would not be where we are today without that partnership.”
More than 70 years later, Zeno’s Pizza remains a cornerstone of downtown Marshalltown, serving great food, preserving tradition, and continuing to bring people together, one slice at a time.