A Taste Of Chicago In Alabama

A Taste Of Chicago In Alabama

Joe’s Pizza serves up traditional Italian and more

At Joe’s Pizza in Woodville, the most popular pizza variety — meat lovers — isn’t listed on the menu that includes muffulettas, catfish, hamburgers and traditional pizzeria fare such as spaghetti and lasagna.

Most of the restaurant’s business is carryout, so there are only a few dine-in tables at this small Northeast Alabama eatery. But perhaps it’s this pairing of the expected and unexpected that has kept loyal regulars coming back for nearly two decades.

Manager Mary Thompson says her parents, Alvaro and Diane Ramos, followed her mother’s dream and started the restaurant in 2000 with only the guidance of Thompson’s pizza restaurateur uncle. Her parents, who had no previous restaurant experience, still work in the kitchen.

“We’re from Chicago so we kind of have pizza in our blood,” Thompson says.

Mary Thompson, center, joined her parents Diane and Alvaro Ramos to manage Joe’s Pizza a year after it opened.

“We’re passionate about it. We know everybody loves pizza, and we wanted to share something good.”

Though some Chicago pizza places are known for deep-dish pies, Joe’s Pizza opts for a thinner crust, Thompson says. The prepped pizzas are popped into a brick oven to bake to cheesy perfection, and only traditional toppings are offered here, like pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, olives, peppers and anchovies, with no desire to chase fleeting food fads.

Pizza holds such appeal for so many because it can be experienced differently every time by simply changing up toppings or asking for a little more or less sauce or cheese, Thompson says.

Windy City flavors

From the beginning, her family wanted to bring a taste of Chicago pizza to people in Alabama, adding that customers who’ve lived in the Windy City say it’s the closest thing they’ve had to Chicago-style pizza since they left. “So we’re doing it right!” she says.

While some other restaurants come and go, Thompson says quality ingredients and a consistent product that’s a good value for the price played a significant role in the restaurant’s longevity. “It’s a fresh dough,” she says. “We make our own sauce. It’s a family recipe, I guess.”

As anyone who successfully operates a small business can attest, long hours are required, and Thompson says her family’s business is no exception.

And when it comes to working with family, that situation presents both benefits and its own unique set of challenges. But Thompson says that, for the most part, the arrangement works well. “We definitely have to work to get along, but I think it’s easier to fight with people you know are going to forgive you,” she says, laughing.

In addition to herself and her parents, Thompson’s younger brother also works at the restaurant. Her older brother, who lives in Texas, helped purchase the business in the beginning, and a younger sister previously worked there but has since moved away. Representing a third generation working at the restaurant, Thompson’s older sister’s son, who lives in Illinois, even came down for a summer and pitched in washing dishes, she says.

Social media messaging

The role that social media increasingly plays has also changed how the eatery promotes itself and interacts with customers. The restaurant holds online promotional contests for free pizzas and consistently receives feedback about customers’ experiences. Thompson says she enjoys reading positive reviews about how much people enjoy the food at Joe’s Pizza, and she remains mindful of suggestions on ways to improve.

Joe’s Pizza’s Facebook page has nearly 16,000 followers, with consistently high marks given for the food and effusive phrases like “best authentic pizza,” “imaginative and tasty” and even “the bomb diggity” used to describe it.

Technology has also made operations more efficient over the past 20 years, including a relatively new online ordering option. “We were doing everything on paper at first,” Thompson says.

Thompson said she joined the family business after it had been open for a couple of years and already had an established customer base. She said she’s enjoyed getting to know the regulars and feels a sense of family with many of them.

With the 20-year milestone on the horizon, no plans have been set for a celebration next year, but Thompson thinks something should be done to commemorate.

“We get asked a lot how long we’ve been in business,” she says. “It’s a big deal!”

Joe’s Pizza is located at 6582 U.S. Highway 72 in Woodville. Visit its website at www.joespizzawoodville.com or its Facebook page.