New Year, New Location for Adams PizzeriaBy Melanie Rancourt
Special to iBerkshires
08:14PM / Sunday, January 03, 2010
Photos by Melanie Rancourt
Jim and Linda Montgomery operated the pizzeria for 16 years on Commercial Street. |
ADAMS, Mass. — For the last 16 years, Jim and Linda Montgomery have been delivering their homemade pizza to the communities of Adams, Cheshire, Savoy and North Adams from their Commercial Street location.
The New Year has brought exciting possibilities for Pizza Jim's, as they plan their grand opening celebration this Wednesday, Jan. 6, from their new location at 86 Howland Ave.
Jim Montgomery, a veteran pizza maker who got his start working at Papa Gino's in North Adams almost 30 years ago, takes pride in their motto "Our Pizzas Are Awesome 'Cause We Toss 'Em!"
"We purchased the building, formally the Sun Raze Day Spa, about two years ago," Linda Montgomery said. "We needed more space to grow, more storage for our product and we wanted better parking for our customers."
The pizzeria tripled in size, from 473 square feet to 1,450 square feet, which allows the crew more working space, a luxury that they were not been accustomed to at the old location on busy weekend nights.
It took a year and a half to complete the needed renovations to the establishment but with help from family, the hard work has paid off.
The Montgomerys gutted the building and installed a new floor, a new roof, a new heating system, new plumbing and a new updraft system
"We also installed new sinks, new counters and a new register computer system that will make it easier to order food and have your order delivered," said Linda Montgomery, and online ordering will available soon.
The new counter that was installed has proven to be a big hit among young children. While waiting for their pizza to be cooked, customers can watch the creation of other pizzas and see the tossing of pizza dough into the air.
The Montgomerys, along with their nine employees, has a "soft" opening at the new location on Dec. 3.
"It has been so busy at our new location that either Jim or I have to be here every night," Montgomery said. "There were days at the old location that we had no business at all. Now our pickup orders are equal to our deliveries, which is something we are not used to — but thankful for."
Pizzas take 7 minutes to cook from start to finish; a double, rotating pizza oven easily accommodate large orders.
Pizza Jim's is gearing up for its grand opening celebration with raffles galore. Wednesday will also be the re-introduction of the "Wacky Wednesday" special. Pizzeria had discontinue the special years ago because of the increased cost of cheese.
"Wacky Wednesday is a three-hour event — from 5 to 8 — where the cost of a large cheese pizza, carry-out only, is the price of when you order," Montgomery explained. "The limit is three pizza pies per order at the special price."
For example, if you order at 5:10 p.m., the cost of a large cheese pizza pie would only be $5.10.
At the conclusion of Wacky Wednesday, the grand prize, a Nintendo Wii game system, will be drawn. Runner-up prizes will include Pizza Jim's T-shirts and free pizza pies.
Another special currently running at Pizza Jim's is "7B47," which means that the cost of a 16-inch cheese pizza is $7 if you order before 7 p.m. Daily offerings include a very popular 20-inch, 16-slice, extra large, cheese pizza for $12.99. Additional toppings are $1.50 each.
In addition to regular pizzas and a variety of specialty pizzas, Pizza Jim's also offers calzones and appetizers such as garlic bread, mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers, chicken fingers, french fries, and onion rings. The shop also has subs available, including ham and cheese, turkey, tuna, sausage and pepper, a BLT bomber, chicken club, vegetarian, steak and cheese and an A1 Steak Bomb served with, of course, A1 Steak Sauce.
Buffalo wings are served with celery sticks and blue cheese dressing and are available in mild, hot, Atomic (caution!) BBQ, or homemade honey mustard. Hamburgers, cheeseburgers and 9-inch hot dogs are also on the menu as well as pasta served with meatballs, sausage or chicken, stuffed shells and fresh salads, all served with garlic bread.
Delivery is free of charge in Adams with a $5 purchase. A delivery charge of $3 is applied to all deliveries (minimum $10) to Cheshire, Savoy and North Adams; two of those dollars go directly to the driver. At the Commercial street location, deliveries to North Adams only went as far as Main Street. Now, the entire city will be included.
Customers can check the Web site and follow Pizza Jim's on Facebook for monthly specials and to find out the winners of the weekly cheese pizza giveaway, which will be posted each Wednesday. Winners will have a week to claim their free pizza.
Because of the increased business, the Montgomerys will also open three days a week for lunch; the days are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 to 2. Dinner hours are from 4 to 10:30 on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; Fridays from 4 to Midnight, Saturdays from 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sundays from 3 to 10:30. Pizza Jim's is closed Tuesdays. |
