The staff at both the Original PJ’s Pizza in New Martinsville and Original PJ’s Varsity Pizza in Moundsville are gearing up for a busy Valentine’s Day next week.
Why? Because the two locations’ heart-shaped pizzas are the perfect way to say “I love you” to that special someone whilst also taking their dietary well-being into account.
It’s a menu item that’s available throughout the year at PJ’s according to owner Erika Donaghy. But at special occasions and holidays, like Mother’s Day, and most certainly Valentine’s Day, the item is incredibly popular.
“We serve it 365 days a year, from birthdays to anniversaries, they are available,” Donaghy said. “But it’s much more prevalent this time of year. We’ll be incredibly busy.”
Just how busy you ask? Hundreds of heart-shaped pizzas will be ordered come Tuesday at each location.
The Original PJ’s utilizes a hand-crafted cutter to help shape the pizzas after baking. Donaghy worked with New York native and Wheeling artist Jeffrey Forster to come up with a unique design—one for each pizza shop.
“They are made out of solid metal with a big, sturdy handle,” Donaghy said. “We can stamp those pizzas out and it makes it easier as opposed to using a pan. They are never exact and can get a little wobbly looking and are harder to get out of the pan.
“Plus, it was nice to be able to work with a local artist like Jeffrey.”
Super Prices for the Bowl
Those heart-shaped pies will be available tomorrow for the Super Bowl as well, but traditionally, it’s wings that in high demand for Super Bowl parties.
The Original PJ’s hasn’t forgotten about wing fans, either. It’s running a promotion just right for a Super Bowl get-together.
If you purchase 50 or more wings, they will be 75 cents apiece. That’s just $37.50 for an order of 50 and $75 for 100. You’ll be hard-pressed to beat those prices for the big game.
Those that enjoy the Original PJ’s wings have been enjoying great dine-in prices since the summer. When wing prices started getting more reasonable to restaurant owners, PJ’s passed on the new-found savings and rewarded its in-house customers with wing prices at 60 cents per wing.
They anticipated the costs would rise once the fall came around and demand rose, but PJ’s has worked to keep those costs down. The prices on an average day are higher for take-out or delivery, but if customers come into the two eateries, they can take advantage of those 60-cents-a-wing prices.
“We’ll have people stop in once or twice every week just to take advantage of the prices on wings,” Donaghy said. “There are some that come in twice a week, without fail, for pepperoni rolls too.”
Donaghy noted the pepperoni rolls and strombolis are made fresh daily and are not pre-packaged. She handles baking the bread for the rolls herself, and they are rolled and put together as ordered.
What results is a delectable, freshly made creation that is popular at both locations.
Delivery is available, including a recent move to supplement her delivery staff with third-party delivery from DoorDash.
This includes the New Martinsville location, which previously didn’t have delivery. Donaghy credits the third-party platform with helping to increase deliveries by around 20 percent since its inclusion.
Pizza Day Donations
Thursday was National Pizza Day and in honor of that event, both Original PJ’s locations took part by partnering with Easter Sales and donating $1 for every pizza ordered that day to the organization.
When Easter Seals approached Donaghy about the idea, she was more than happy to get onboard.
Donaghy has a leg disability that required her to need care—care provided by Easter Seals as an adult patient. Dr. Ellen Kitts and her staff helped Donaghy immensely and she credits Easter Seals will her ability to still be able to walk.
“I was excited to do it because I was an adult patient at Easter Seals,” Donaghy said. “I had to wear leg braces for a long time. I had surgeries and therapies, but I’m still walking.
“It’s not perfect. I still use a cane sometimes, but honestly, if it weren’t for Dr. Kitts and Easter Seals, I’d be in a wheelchair.”
Because of that, and for all the good Easter Seals does for others in need, Donaghy was more than happy to donate a buck a pie from Thursday’s sales.
And to add to the donation, PJ’s will match the total.
*Correction – price is $.75 a piece.
