Grabbing a slice of the pizza business

By NATE HUBBARD/Staff

A new pizza business is coming to Bland County – plus it even serves breakfast.
Pizza Plus will have a grand opening on Nov. 5 as it opens its doors as the first tenant in the new Bastian shopping center, located just off Exit 58 on Interstate 77.
The pizza chain began in Kingsport, Tenn., in 1982 and now features more than 60 stores in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
On a Monday afternoon tour of the new Bastian store with director of marketing Kimberlee Matney, supervisor Brenda Perkins and Bastian store manager Richard Munsey, the trio pointed out a number of the features the store will include.
Although most of the finishing touches still need to be done, the Pizza Plus representatives painted a compelling picture of what the restaurant will look like in just two weeks.
The pizza joint will include a party room with video games and space to host birthday parties. A spot in the main dining area will also hold a lunchtime buffet that is planned to be available daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In addition, the restaurant will be completely non-smoking.
Matney said Pizza Plus emphasizes connecting with the community.
“We support [local] basketball and football teams,” she said. “We’re definitely geared toward the family.”
Busy families can also take advantage of the new pizza joint on evenings when they don’t have time to enjoy the ambiance of the store. The restaurant will deliver within about a six-minute distance of its location and on-site it will also have a drive-thru window for both ordering and pickup.
Munsey added that the restaurant will have a mobile unit, complete with a small oven, which can serve pizza for special events such as festivals, fairs or church gatherings.
Pizza won’t be the only thing the eatery will serve. Plans call for the restaurant to be open daily at 6 a.m. for breakfast.
Breakfast menu items include a breakfast pizza (eggs, bacon, sausage and mozzarella cheese on a thin pizza crust), biscuits and pancakes.
Lunch and dinner will also include non-pizza items such as chicken wings, hoagies and pasta.
Variety can also be found in the specialty pizzas the restaurant will offer.
“It’s a big menu,” Munsey said. “Of course the best pizza is the BBQ chicken pizza.”
People who disagree with the manager, though, are welcome to sample a veggie d’lite or taco variety. A “build your own pizza” option is also available with toppings to choose from such as hamburger, onion and pineapple, as well as old standbys such as pepperoni and sausage.
Pizza Plus is known for its “Two custom made pizzas…One low price” slogan. Prices for double options range from two small 1-topping pizzas for $8.05 to two large specialties for $21.
The business plans to employ 25 people, 15 full-time and 10 part-time employees. The representatives said Monday that they still have a lot of positions to fill, especially full-time roles.
Interested applicants can apply online at http://www.pizzaplusinc.com by clicking on the “Work Here” tab. Applications are also available at the store.
The store’s phone number for delivery or other questions will be (276) 688-3332 once the business opens.
Matney said Pizza Plus owner Daniel Morrison chose to locate a store in Bastian after spending time in the area and being impressed with the people and the surroundings.
In addition, Matney added, Morrison saw the community lacking a great spot to go for pizza.
“Everybody deserves pizza,” she said.
Nate Hubbard can be reached at 1-800-655-1406 or .