It’s Always Sunny at this Pizzeria

It’s Always Sunny

AT THIS PIZZERIA

BY MARY MICHAELS | PHOTOS BY JULIE PRAIRIE PHOTOGRAPHY

Sunny’s Pizzeria 1801 South Walts Avenue 605-271-4770 www.sunnyspizzeria.com

Hours: Monday-Friday: 11am-2pm and 5pm-10pm Saturday: 11am-Close Sunday: Noon-9pm

Once upon a time, a young couple bought their first home in central Sioux Falls, nestled in the blocks between the University of Sioux Falls and Augustana University (then College). The year was 2012, and Jon and Katy Oppold would take walks with their dog through the neighborhood, and one particular building always caught their eye.

It sat on the corner of West 26th Street and Walts Avenue and, at the time, served as a coin-operated laundromat. The pair made a pact that if that building was ever on the market, they would do everything in their power to buy it and turn it into a pizzeria.

Fast forward to 2020, and the couple is already celebrating their first full month in business as owners of Sunny’s Pizzeria. “When the building went up for lease last year, we knew it was time to act,” said Jon. “I’m a Sioux Falls native and love the feel of local, neighborhood spots. We knew we could make this a great place not just for the college crowd, but for the rest of Sioux Falls as well.”

With his own experience in the restaurant and bar industries, plus marketing and communications, Jon knew they had to find their own “niche” to make Sunny’s unique. For starters, the inspiration for the name is certainly something all their own, because they named it after their French Bulldog, Sunny.

“He has a lot to do with us being here today,” says Katy, “because we would take Sunny on walks when we were living in the neighborhood. And, that’s when we first saw this building.”

Sunny’s likeness is everywhere – in their logo, on the website, social media features and interior décor, including his

own “wall of fame” with a collection of framed pictures. And their marketing is cheeky and riddled with dog puns, where they invite folks to “ditch the usual kibble” and stop in for some “jowl-dropping” pizza. The other area the Oppolds focused on to set their pizza apart from the crowd is their toppings. In addition to the perennial favorites like pepperoni, sausage and cheese, they have spent time perfecting a variety of specialty options from savory to spicy. They have also injected quite a bit of local flavor – using Stensland cheese, partnering with local breweries for craft beer offerings and in creating unique menu item names.

For example, in a nod to their university neighbors, Sunny’s offers the Augie Blues – with alfredo sauce, mozzarella, bacon, mushrooms, bleu cheese and a ranch drizzle – as well as Cougar Meat featuring Sunny’s signature spicy marinara sauce, pepper jack and sharp cheddar cheeses, bacon, sausage, hamburger, jalapenos, red pepper flakes and a sriracha drizzle. The menu also includes pizzas named the BB-

Coo Chicken and Ole Moly!

Other early crowd favorites are the Bacon Cheese Burglar and the Pepperoni Playboy that tops a pepperoni pie with pepperoni pizza rolls and a drizzle of sriracha.

When you order at the counter, you can watch the crew make their pizza magic in the open kitchen. Once the pizza goes into the oven, it only takes a couple of minutes to bake. So, whether you are hanging out in their cozy dining area or taking your pizza to go, you won’t have to wait very long.

Although Sunny’s does have a chalkboard listing of the available craft beers, the Oppolds are quick to point out they are a family- and dog-friendly restaurant that happens to have beer, as opposed to a bar that happens to serve pizza.

“We want this to be a true neighborhood gathering place,” says Jon. “We have TVs for sports fans to watch games, and we have both board games as well as pinball and video games for the family.”

Bring your furry friend, too, because they keep a canister of dog treats on the counter.

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TICKETS STARTING AS LOW AS $ 8