For nearly 50 years, Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa has been a destination restaurant for customers of all ages.

It is home to the Mighty Wurlitzer, the world’s largest and finest theater organ, according to a release.

Valley patrons are able to enjoy pizza and pipes every night of the week at the business, 1149 E. Southern Ave. With its nearly 6,000 pipes, numerous percussions and countless traps, it takes a musical genius to masterfully play this historic instrument, the release states.

Glenn Tallar on Sept. 15 joined Organ Stop Pizza’s musical staff.

“We are so excited to have Glenn join the Organ Stop Pizza staff full-time starting next week,” Jack Barz, co-owner of Organ Stop Pizza, said in the release. “He brings an extraordinary set of skills to the team that few organists possess. Not only is Glenn a very skilled organ technician he is also a tuner. This skill is invaluable in today’s era where there are very few of these instruments left in the U.S. We feel extremely fortunate to have an artist of his caliber at our restaurant.”

Relocating to Mesa from Chicago, Illinois, Tallar was twice awarded  ATOS Young Organist scholarships, allowing him to study with Jelani Eddington. A versatile musician, Tallar played baritone saxophone in bands throughout his high school and college years. He was the 2008 George Wright Fellowship Award winner, which gave him the opportunity to attend his first ATOS convention in Indianapolis.

Tallar is not only an impressive musician, he also has the skillset to do extensive repair work on the organ, a huge benefit for Organ Stop Pizza. Thanks to his father’s influence, he started playing in pizza restaurants when he was 14, the release states.

“In addition to his instrumentalist skills, Glenn also has a background in theatrical effects,” Barz said. “He is truly a jack-of-all-trades. Glenn is able to play, fix, tune and be the special effects coordinator for Organ Stop Pizza. Customers will surely benefit from his talent and artistic vision. It’s a very exciting time for us with both Glenn and Brett Valliant at the console of our mighty Wurlitzer.”

Go to organstoppizza.com