Pizza is a favorite food of
mine. It is second in favorability rank only to pinto beans with onions and
corn bread.
I was introduced to pizza in Detroit, age nine, by the
neighborhood kids. We lived on Bessemore
Street. The pizza place, I don’t remember the
name, was on Gratiot Avenue.
We would walk the three or four blocks to a store building which appeared to be
fifty years old. The globe light fixtures suspended from the ceiling five feet.
The floor tile was sufficiently aged that it had many cracked and missing pieces.
I still remember the scrape of the wooden pizza peel as the worker thrusts the
pizza into the oven.
My friends and I would joke, converse about
our favorite TV shows such as “Batman” and "Man from Uncle” while the
workers also exchanged more adult versions of such discussion.
Yes, pizza is more than just
food for me. It carries the memories of youth.
Having moved from Detroit to Dunlap Indiana
the next favorite pizza place was the Pizza Shack on US 33 in beautiful
downtown Dunlap. In 1969 it was located next door to a Burger Dairy store. My
friend R. Keith Hunter and I would periodically walk there after school at
Concord Junior High and order a pizza and then go next door to purchase soft
drinks at Burger Dairy.
In those days crossing US33
was manageable as there were only three lanes, the center being a turn lane.
The traffic, well before Concord Mall, was much lighter.
Anyway…much thanks to Bill
and Ruth Ann Owen for making such great pizzas at the Pizza Shack.
Also in 1969 there was Miller’s
Pizza in Goshen
at intersection of Pike and 2nd. It was a healthy bicycle ride from Dunlap,
but worth it.
Yes, since 1964, my Detroit friends and I
eating pizza while watching Election night results, pizza has been a favorite
food as well as a cultural companion.
Even during the season of Covid 19 pizza
will not surrender!
Last night I purchased pizza
at Volcano’s at Easy Shopping Place.
The cardboard container claims “legendary since 1957!”
I encourage you to enjoy pizza from Volcano’s…call
ahead with your order (574-295-8606). Someone comes out to your car to handle
the transaction. Only employees are allowed in the building itself.
It is great pizza!
