Three longtime food institutions are facing anniversaries, but in very different circumstances.

Let's take the youngest first: Geppetto's Pizza is due to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2010, but owner Ginger Dunn is worried that the Holladay restaurant won't be able to stay in business long enough to celebrate.

"Within the last three weeks, it looks as if we're going to go under," she said in a telephone interview.

The biggest problem isn't the economy, she said; it's construction around their location, which is at 2340 E. Murray-Holladay Road.

"Our street has been shut down completely. People just avoid the area."

The pizza-and-pasta place has many loyal regulars, "and that's why we've been able to stay in business so far," she said.

But it may not be enough.

"So many people say they have memories of how much they love Geppetto's," Dunn said. "If you love us so much, you've got to support us, or these little unique places will disappear."

Going back one more decade in time, Hire's Big H will celebrate its 50th anniversary in October.

The company seeks customer memories about their dining experiences at Hires. Writers of the top 100 stories chosen will receive $25 in gift certificates. There's also a T-shirt designing contest, with $100 in gift certificates for the top five winners. Send stories to Hires Enterprises, 8160 Highland Drive, Suite 210, Sandy UT 84093 or Hiresbigh@gmail.com. Submit T-shirt designs as PDF files to hiresbigh@gmail.com.

The drive-in burger joint was founded by Don Hale, who is now 91. His hard work, long hours and great burgers turned it into a Salt Lake City classic.

And today, burgers are very "in," with burger chains opening up new outlets all around the country.

And going back another decade to 60 years, the National Chicken Cooking Contest has been suspended indefinitely.

It was a victim of the economic slowdown, according to George Watts, president of the National Chicken Cooking Council.

"The economic realities facing our industry required us to take a hard look at all our programs," said Watts in a press release.

The contest was considered a jewel in the "triple crown" of big-bucks cook-offs, along with the Pillsbury Bake-off and the National Beef Cook-off.

It began in 1949 as the Delmarva Poultry Contest and grew from there.

For many years, a contestant from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia won a trip to the contest, and in 2007, the grand prize had grown to $100,000.

The last cook-off, held in San Antonio on May 2, was downsized to nine regional finalists, and the grand prize was $50,000.

I've covered the NCC five times and loved every minute of it. Besides watching the competition, and gathering recipes, I picked up a lot of good stories, helpful information and future sources from the seminars held during the contests. So, here's wishing the NCC a speedy comeback. Meanwhile, you can find all the past winning recipes at www.chickencookingcontest.com.

e-mail: vphillips@desnews.com