An image of owner Matt Tatro with one of his three boys who inspired the pizzeria's name. 

ADAMS, Mass. — Grazie owner Matt Tatro sold off his taqueria and has now switched to a pizzeria. 

He's opening Dough Boys Pizza in the former Pizza Jim's at 86 Howland Ave.

Tatro used to work for a pizza place when he was in college and said he loved the routine and the satisfaction of making the pies from scratch. 

"I love doing pizzas. I made pizzas for a year and a half when I was in college in Rhode Island, at a pizza shop called Brothers Pizza, and it's very satisfying, making it from scratch, making the dough, prepping the sauce, grinding the cheese," he said. "If you do it right, it can be labor-intensive, but the final product is infinitely better than using frozen or pre-shredded or sauce that's already made."

Dough Boys Pizza will serve specialty pies, calzones, and strombolis as well as build-your-own pizzas. It will also offer salads and fried appetizers.

Tatro purchased the two-story building for $237,000 a year and a half ago from James and Linda Montgomery, who operated Pizza Jim's for 30 years, the last 14 at the Howland Avenue location. 

The question he keeps getting asked, he said, is "are you going to do pizza like Jim?' So we hope to have the success that Jim had here."

Tatro was waiting until after Grazie moved to its new location in North Adams before focusing on Dough Boys. Now that Grazie is settled, he hopes to open the pizzeria's doors next month. 

The name is inspired by his three sons (who also inspired the taqueria's Tres Ninos name) and his team at the restaurant.

"I've got three boys. Kind of my management crew is made up of guys. So we're kind of just like a bunch of guys down here having some fun," he smiled. "You know, we're not trying to reinvent the wheel. We're trying to put out a good quality product using the highest quality ingredients."

While the space inside is small there are a couple of seats for those who want a quick slice of pizza.

"We're gonna be selling slices, too. So you can come in for a slice and a soda and just sit and grab a bag of chips," Tatro said. 

Customers are asked to park along the sides of the building and in the back, accessing the front door only.

Now that Tatro's got a couple of restaurants under his belt he hopes to see Dough Boys Pizza flourish.

"I'm learning something new each time I set up a new business and a new storefront. So, I mean, I'd like it to sustain and be in town and be a staple to the Adams and North Adams community for the foreseeable future," he said. 

The restaurateur said his life is in the Berkshires and that he plans to stay here forever, seeing himself making pizzas until he can't anymore.

"My feet are planted in the Berkshire roots, foundation. I'm going to be here for the remainder of my life," he said. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll probably retire making pizzas down here. You know, that's, my plan."

Tatro and his crew have started making pizzas to perfect the recipes before they open. He welcomes customers to provide input and recommendations so they can continue perfecting the product.

"We won't be perfect, but we're going to strive for that. And keep the suggestions and recommendations on Facebook, keep those coming. We love to hear from people on what they want so that we can give them that," he said.

Tatro also plans to have Dough Boys Pizza be a pillar of support in the community, as he does with Grazie.

"We welcome any people in town, any organizations in town that may want to work with us," he said. "We welcome a conversation, always willing to help out the local sports teams and kids and the youth, we’re huge advocates for that."

Dough Boys Pizza will be open late Thursday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday and Monday from 4 to 10 p.m. Hours are subject to change.