Pizzeria prepares pizza to please people

COLUMBUS GROVE ­— Brent and Curt Shafer never thought the pizza business they bought 30 years ago would expand to include Pizzeria stores in five different communities.

“I was a senior and Brett was out of high school and attending school in Lima when Tom Cartwright put his Columbus Grove business up for sale,” Curt said. “I had no definite plans for after I graduated and our dad thought it would be a good opportunity.”

Brent said it was a good thing they were both living at home when the started the business.

“There were times when we weren't making a lot of money,” he admitted. “We had to learn as we went on how to operate a business.”

Both men say that treating the customer right is very important when operating a local business.

“We've always wanted to make sure the customer is getting what they pay for,” Curt said, adding this means making a quality consistent product without cutting corners. “Our mom always told us that people in Putnam County were not afraid to pay for a good product.”

The men said they have had vendors offer them cheaper but they have stayed with the sauce they used when they started in 1981.

“We've tried other sauces, but they aren't the same,” Brent said. “I think that's part of what makes our pizzas special.”

He said they also bake their crusts in traditional deck ovens.

“When we bought the Leipsic business they had a quicker conveyor oven to bake the pizzas,” Brent said. “We tried that for awhile, but it just wasn't the same, so we bought a traditional deck oven for that business.

The brothers know their reputations are on the line each time they sell a pizza.

“We have businesses in smaller communities, so word of mouth is very important to keeping a business popular,” Curt said.

Only six years after opening the Columbus Grove business, the brothers decided to expand and open a Pizzeria in Ottawa. The growth continued when they added a Pizzeria in Pandora in 1991, in Leipsic in 2000 and in Kalida in 2008.

“We always tried to establish a business before we opened a new one,” Curt said.

They now own all five buildings, have 11 delivery vehicles and have 50 part-time and eight fulltime employees.

“I think the hardest thing is not being able to be at all of the stores all of the time. “When something goes wrong, then it's a lot of running,” Curt said.

“We are fortunate though to have very good employees,” Brent said. “Putnam County is a good place to find good help. The people we hire have a good work ethic.” He said the majority of their employees are high school and college students.

“For many of our employees this is their first job,” Brent said.

The brothers feel offering employment for these students is an important way to give back to the community. They also belong to the Chamber of Commerce in all the towns where they are located and support the schools and events in the community.

“We've done everything from bed races to pizza eating contests,” Curt said. “We rarely turn someone down if assistance is asked for a benefit.”

The Pizzeria also enters a special “Pizza Wedgie” mascot in all of the community parades.

“I've worked in an office, and I enjoy this so much better,” Brent said. “I like being around people. I get to meet new people all the time and also get to know some regulars.”

Curt agreed. “I love working here,” he said. “This is our office. We both love what we do.”