There wasn’t much emotion on display at Red’s Savoy Pizza on Saturday, its last day in business.

That’s probably because it was too busy.

A half-hour before the East Seventh Street bar and restaurant opened for the last time, a line of about 200 people had formed outside, eager for one last slice from the pizzeria Earl “Red” Schoenheider founded in 1965.

Schoenheider died Aug. 12 at age 82. One of his three children owns a Red’s Savoy on North White Bear Avenue, and there are 13 franchises throughout the metro area, but the original location at 421 E. Seventh St. needed major upgrades to become ADA compliant, so keeping it open didn’t make sense, they have said.

First in line was Al Langseth of Willernie, Minn. He had arrived 90 minutes before the tavern’s 4 p.m. opening time, determined not to lose out like he did last Saturday, when he underestimated how long the line would be.

“The little satellite stores don’t taste the same. I don’t know why. They just don’t,” he said. “It’s like comfort food. It’s one of those neighborhood spots you can just go to and have a good meal.”

His sentiments were echoed by Alycia Hofkes, who bypassed several closer franchise locations on her way from Oakdale.

“I do believe they have the best pizza,” she said as she waited to pick up a to-go order for her father, who is recovering from hip surgery and asked for Red’s Savoy. “It’s an all-time favorite.” Related Articles St. Paul PD highlights surveillance photos of looting suspects, seeks tips

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Joel Hauge loaded a box of 10 frozen pizzas on the back of his motorbike before he set off for Montgomery, Minn., about an hour southwest of St. Paul.

“I got so many people who want ’em these might not last the day,” he said. “Nowhere else can duplicate it. I will miss it. I really will.”

At 4 p.m. Vince Cockriel unlocked the door and held it open, thanking each patron who entered. Cockriel’s wife, Cindy, is one Schoenheider’s children.

“It’s bittersweet,” Cockriel said. “People have been telling me about birthdays they had here, birth announcements, wedding proposals. It’s been that kind of a neighborhood bar for everybody.”

Jim Flaherty has been a cook at Red’s Savoy since 1978.

“I don’t know if I am ready for this or not,” he said. “A lot of the people I work with are great people, and we’ve got some great customers.”

Co-worker Kristi Hunt said she felt “very emotional.”

“I’m going to miss this whole experience,” she said. “It was somewhere to always come back to, not unlike home in that way.”