Lonelyhearts Pizza

love & crust Backyard pizzeria supplies creative outlet, good times

Story by RACHEL STONE | Photography by SHELBY TAUBER & JESSICA TURNER

You can’t buy a pie from the most esoteric pizzeria in Oak Cliff. But if you’re nice, John Gaither might just give you one.

Lonelyhearts Pizza started a year-and-a-half ago with a book, The Elements of Pizza, which Gaither received as a birthday gift from his partner’s mom, Ann Rogers.

“I never really even liked pizza that much,” he says. “But then she gave me the book, and I don’t know, I just liked feeling the dough. Like, feeling the dough transform in my hands.”

He enjoyed the process so much that he perfected a 48-hour dough and bought a Gozney outdoor pizza oven that can cook a pie in about five minutes.

Most of the groceries come from H-E-B in Waxahachie. Gaither picks up online orders Saturday mornings, and he says the drive gives him time to let his mind wander.

Pepperoni, Jimmy’s Food Store sausage, mushrooms and jalapeños are among the toppings he preps ahead and spreads onto his pies. Each one has whole-milk mozzarella, fresh mozzarella and parmesan.

Symmetrical thin crusts come out crisp and chewy with consistency and flavors that could rival any pizzeria around.

But this is not really about pizza.

A corporate bankruptcy lawyer with Neligan LLP, Gaither says he never knew he was creative until he found a way to express himself through pizza.

“This gave me a thing that I could do and is totally me,” he says. “I get in my zone and make pizza and who cares how it turns out?”

He is critical of the results, but that’s part of the fun for him.

A lifelong tennis player, Gaither says he never cared about matches that much. He played because he loved practicing.

“The whole thing to me was about the iterative process of getting better and the discipline and enjoyment of watching visible improvement,” he says. “And it never had an end. You could always get better. It wasn’t like, ‘I’m satisfied now.’ It was an evolution, and it was something fun to go apply yourself to.”

Tennis and pizza haven’t been his only obsessions. He also has a full-size wine fridge and is active in a local wine club. He owns hundreds of vinyl records and a 1970s hi-fi system with speakers inherited from his grandfather.

He developed the Lonelyhearts Pizza branding with his partner, Andrea Rogers, an abstract painter who also makes a line of skincare products, Beige Dusk Greys, and is a bartender.

She made the final logo design from his idea and showed him how to order his printed pizza boxes online. They’re cute, but they’re not cheap.

“The boxes are what kills

A party spread of charcuterie board, fruit and salads complements pizzas from an outdoor oven in Kessler/ Stevens. Andrea Rogers and John Gaither created a backyard retreat for themselves and their friends, complete with a hobby pizzeria they’ve branded Lonelyhearts.

you,” he says. “I order 50 at a time, and they’re like $2 each, which is more than the pizza costs to make almost.”

The name came to him a long time ago, when he daydreamed about having something called Lonelyhearts, like a party or an event.

He finally got to use it for his pizzas, complete with an Instagram account and landing site, and matches it with playlists, heavy on ambient music and retro goth sounds.

This all takes place in the backyard of the Kessler/Stevens cottage Gaither and Rogers bought 10 years ago.

Because the interior didn’t need much renovation, they focused first on outdoor spaces. They spent several years dreaming up a redesign before hiring landscape architect Wendy Meyer for a plan they could execute.

Gaither’s vision for a high gray fence and 10 symmetrical live oak trees wound up looking like a prison yard, just as the architect had warned, he says.

But Rogers warmed it up with seating arrangements and tons of potted plants.

“She took my symmetrical stuff and was like, ‘We need to soften this and make it more organic.’ It’s so much cooler; it’s so much greener; it’s so much more inviting,” he says.

He never knew he liked entertaining until she threw him a 30th birthday party 10 years ago.

She taught him that sincere generosity is the key to entertaining.

“No one ever wants to be the person to take the last one. And then when there’s not that much left, if it’s drinks or food, it scares people off of it,” he says. “You want them to feel welcome and comfortable and invited. She does that by overdoing everything.”

That rationale of abundance shows in her charcuterie boards.

“You just have to fill in all the blank spaces,” she says. “As long as it looks really full, it will look good, whatever you put on there.”

Lonelyhearts Pizza isn’t well-known. It’s just John and Andrea and their friends, but it’s not actually that exclusive, he says.

“I can’t eat 10 pizzas myself,” he says. “I actually need more people to give them to.”

Above: The key to a charcuterie board is to make it really full, Rogers says. “It will look good, whatever you put on there.” Right: Noah Macias takes a bite of Lonelyhearts Pizza.

GETTING YOU BACK-TO-SCHOOL CHECKUP READY.

What are neighbors for?

Methodist Health System has been caring for our friends and neighbors in Oak Cli for more than 90 years. And now, we’re proud to announce a brand-new primary care facility, complete with pediatrics and ready for back-to-school checkups. Meet Kensey Saltarelli, MD, and Kyle Oholendt, MD. Both are double board certifi ed in pediatrics and internal medicine. The neighborhood we call home just keeps getting better, and we’re dedicated to supporting its vibrancy, creativity, and health. That’s community, and why do many people Trust. Methodist.

Schedule your back-to-school checkup today

MethodistHealthSystem.org/DavisStreet 803 W. Davis St., Suite 101, Dallas, TX 75208

Phone: 469-372-6200 Fax: 469-372-6203

BEST

2022 F 2022

Neighbors voted to select the best of 2022. Be sure to visit all of these local spots, and share your pictures on social media — we’d love to see you around Oak Cliff.

Best of Culture

BEST LOCAL ATTRACTION

WINNER - BISHOP ARTS DISTRICT 2ND - TEXAS THEATRE 3RD - KESSLER THEATER

BEST PLACE FOR KIDS

WINNER - DALLAS ZOO 2ND - KIDD SPRINGS PARK AND

RECREATION CENTER 3RD - OIL AND COTTON

BEST PLACE FOR LIVE MUSIC

WINNER - KESSLER THEATER 2ND - REVELERS HALL 3RD - TEXAS THEATRE

BEST PLACE TO RELAX

WINNER - KIDD SPRINGS PARK 2ND - DALLAS ZOO 3RD - KIEST PARK

BEST PLACE TO TAKE YOUR DOG

WINNER - KESSLER PARK AND

STEVENS PARK 2ND - KIDD SPRINGS PARK 3RD - KIEST PARK

Best of Dining

BEST ASIAN FOOD

WINNER - TEN RAMEN 2ND - PHO 88 3RD - BBBOP SEOUL KITCHEN

BEST BAR/COCKTAILS

WINNER - CHIMICHURRI 2ND - TINY VICTORIES 3RD - SKETCHES OF SPAIN

BEST BREAKFAST

WINNER - NORMA’S CAFÉ 2ND - TRIBAL ALL DAY CAFE 3RD - ODDFELLOWS

BEST BURGER JOINT

WINNER - HUNKY’S OLD FASHIONED

HAMBURGERS 2ND - COUNTRY BURGER 3RD - WINGFIELD’S BREAKFAST &

BURGER

BEST CELEBRATORY DINNER

WINNER - GLORIA’S LATIN CUISINE 2ND - PARADISO 3RD - LUCIA

BEST COFFEE

WINNER - ESPUMOSO CAFFE 2ND - HOLA CAFE 3RD - XAMÁN CAFE 3RD - WHITE RHINO COFFEE

BEST DESSERTS

WINNER - VERA’S BAKERY 2ND - EMPORUIM PIES 3RD - ESPUMOSO CAFFE

BEST DONUT SHOP

WINNER - THE SALTY DONUT 2ND - OAK CLIFF DOUGHNUTS 3RD - SOUTHERN MAID DONUTS

BEST FROZEN TREATS

WINNER - PICOLÉ POPS 2ND - ENCANTO POPS 3RD - AZUCAR ICE CREAM CO.

BEST HEALTHY BITE

WINNER - TRIBAL ALL DAY CAFE 2ND - ANN’S HEALTH FOOD CENTER & MARKET 2ND - SPIRAL DINER & BAKERY 3RD - ODDFELLOWS

BEST MEXICAN FOOD

WINNER - VERACRUZ CAFE 2ND - LA CALLE DOCE 3RD - EL RANCHITO

BEST NIGHT OUT

WINNER - 303 BAR AND GRILL 2ND - TACO Y VINO 3RD - GLORIA’S LATIN CUISINE

BEST PATIO

WINNER - PARADISO 2ND - GLORIA’S LATIN CUISINE 2ND - TRINITY GROVES 3RD - SUNSET CRAB SHACK

BEST PIZZA

WINNER - ENO’S PIZZA TAVERN 2ND - HOME RUN PIZZA 3RD - ZALAT PIZZA

BEST PLACE TO WATCH A GAME

WINNER - 303 BAR AND GRILL 2ND - SUNSET CRAB SHACK 3RD - PHD

BEST SANDWICH

WINNER - HUNKY’S OLD FASHIONED

HAMBURGERS 2ND - CHEESESTEAK HOUSE 3RD - DALLAS GRILLED CHEESE CO.

BEST TACOS

WINNER - TACOS LA GLORIA 2ND - TACO Y VINO 3RD - TAQUERIA EL SI HAY

BEST WINE LIST

WINNER - TACO Y VINO 2ND - BISHOP ARTS WINERY 3RD - NEIGHBORHOOD CELLAR

Best of Services

BEST BARBER SHOP

WINNER - TEXAS FADEZ 2ND - V&F BEAUTY LOUNGE 2ND - BISHOP BARBERS 3RD - AMBICIONES BARBER

LOUNGE LLC

BEST CONTRACTOR

WINNER - SOUTHPAW TRADING

COMPANY 2ND - CODY & SONS PLUMBING,

HEATING & AIR 3RD - SHEFFIELD PLUMBING CO

BEST GIFT SHOP

WINNER - TRADE OAK CLIFF 2ND - ALL GOOD THINGS 3RD - DAVIS STREET MERCANTILE

BEST HOME AND GARDEN

WINNER - OASIS PLANT SHOP 2ND - BISHOP STREET MARKET 3RD - DAVIS STREET MERCANTILE

BEST INTERIOR DESIGN

WINNER - HOUSS ON BISHOP 2ND - NEIGHBORHOOD STORE +

GALLERY 3RD - PETERS-CATES DESIGN

BEST NAIL SALONS

WINNER - NAILED UP 2ND - YESSENIA BEAUTY SALON 3RD - V&F BEAUTY LOUNGE

BEST PET SERVICES

WINNER - BRUNO’S PLACE DIY DOG

WASH (SELF-SERVE ONLY) 2ND - OAK CLIPS 3RD - BISHOP ARTS DOG

GROOMING

BEST PLACE TO GET PAMPERED

WINNER - BELLA MED SPA 2ND - JEWEL SKIN STUDIO LLC 3RD - YAYA FOOT SPA

BEST PLACE TO WORK OUT

WINNER - ATHLETIC ZONE 2ND - OAK CLIFF PILATES 3RD - THE SWEAT SHOP

BEST SPECIALTY SHOP

WINNER - HOME ON BISHOP 2ND - ALL GOOD THINGS 3RD - DAVIS STREET MERCANTILE

BEST FLORAL SHOP

WINNER - JOYCE FLORIST OF

DALLAS, INC. 2ND - DIRT FLOWERS 3RD - GLORIA’S FLOWERS