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Boardman's Uptown Pizza moves down the street to bigger, better location
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Uptown Pizza
BOARDMAN
Uptown Pizza soon will have a new home, just a mile south of its current location on Market Street in the township.
Within the next few weeks, owner Mark Campbell will open the doors to the new location at 6041 Market St., which used to house a Dunkin’ Donuts.
Campbell decided to purchase the stand-alone building because his current location at 4605 Market St. isn’t big enough for how well the business is doing, he said.
“I needed more room and more parking,” he said. “Business is doing very well. We’ve outgrown our little shop at 4605 Market St.”
Uptown Pizza, which first opened its doors in the mid-1950s, has a long history on Market Street.
The pizza shop originally opened on Market, then in the 1960s moved to South Avenue, Campbell said.
His father, James Campbell, became part-owner of Uptown Pizza in the early 1970s, and became full-owner in the early 1980s. A few years later, in 1989, Uptown moved back to Market, where it has been ever since.
Another location opened on Belmont Avenue in Liberty in the 1970s, which Campbell’s daughter Starr now manages.
“I’ve been involved since 1975, since I was 15 years old,” Campbell said. He took over the family business in 1998, after managing the Market Street location for years.
Campbell is in the process of renovating the new location, which he said is set to open in mid-December.
“The whole dining room is being completely remodeled. Same with the kitchen,” Campbell said.
“The dining room is way nicer. Really homey,” he said. “The kitchen’s a lot larger. It’s totally different.”
The 1,600-square-foot building is 400 square feet larger than the current location and will seat about 40 people in the dining area.
Although the building will be different, Campbell said customers can expect the same atmosphere and quality that they experienced at the old place.
And, “Everything will be the same as far as the menu goes. There may be some additions, but I’m not sure what they’ll be yet,” Campbell said.
Campbell credits his customers and the quality of the pizza for his ability to buy his own building and upgrade the restaurant’s facilities.
“Business has always been increasing from year to year,” he said. “I’m very thankful for the customers. I put out a good-quality product at a darn good price. And I have lifetime loyal customers.”
And, he said, he’s happy he’s not moving very far away.
“I’m glad I’m staying in Boardman,” he said. “[It] is just a fantastic place to do business.”