For more than 50 years the owners of The Original PJ’s Pizza in New Martinsville have attracted pie lovers from the Northern Panhandle and East Ohio, but now they have made the popular shop much easier to locate along W.Va. Route 2.
Rob and Erika Donaghy knew when they acquired PJ’s Pizza in June 2016 that a new sign would be needed in the future, and that upgrade was made close to two weeks ago. The Donaghys purchased the pizza and sandwich shop from Dan and Nancy Welch and retained the original recipes that have been prepared since 1969. They have also added a few menu items of their own.
“We never had a thought about changing something that has worked so well,” explained Erika Donaghy. “We know this is the first stop for people coming home for the holidays and we want to make sure they get the PJ’s Pizza they have enjoyed since their childhood.
“We believe it says something when you hear about a place’s pizza even though it’s 30 minutes away from where you grew up,” she said. “But what we have done is add some things to increase the variety of what we offer with hopes that those items will become just as popular.”
Sign of the Times
It was illuminated during the evening hours, and then it was not.
And it was a two-sided sign, too, but one side cracked and quickly eroded.
“It was well past time to replace it,” Erika explained. “When Witscheys was bought by Riesbeck’s, we saw their new sign going up and decided it was just time to take the plunge. I called a few sign companies and received no quotes. That’s when I asked on our local New Martinsville Business Focus Facebook group.
“Sandy (Hunt), the new mayor, her husband Steve, and their daughter Jae C Hunt Lehew, who own S & S Diamonds & Fine Jewelry, are very active in local business and let me know there were working with PAC Signs Fixtures & Media Systems through their Pittsburgh office. I called and spoke with Jeff Packard,” she said. “He met with us on location and worked with us through the entire process. We and the Hunts were able to get a discount on the freight service to get the signs here since they were delivered on the same day.”
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The Donaghys quickly learned local folks were taking notice.
“We’ve had a great response! It’s a much different style and it now has LED lights,” Erika reported. “I’m sure it’s odd seeing something new on the most traveled road in town.”
Original PJ’s Pizza Menu Mix
Of course, The Original PJ’s Pizza is well known for the pies, but the eatery also serves up subs, a plethora of pastas, salads, wings, and a few appetizers, too.
The Donaghys, however, have added several new twists to go along with the tradition items.
“We made a couple of upgrades like switching to Mancini’s fresh baked bread and a better quality of steak for the pizzas and the subs,” Erika explained. “We also thought it made sense to add wings and the pastas, too, because the space was there, and our customers have really enjoyed those new menu items.
“Some of the wing flavors will be seasonal, and we’re always looking at what else we can offer to the people who come into PJ’s Pizza, order by phone, or online,” she said. “If a customer says, ‘I wish you had this on the menu,’ we immediately look at what options we have and whether or not it would become a popular item. We just want to continue giving our customers more reasons to keep coming back.”
“We have added pasta and wings to the menu in regular, family, and party sizes, and also some new permanent, and seasonal, pizzas. Some new items are the insanely hot Exorcist Wings, Philly Steak Pizza, Pasta Alfredo, and a new Veggie Wedgie.”
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