Big picture thinking. That’s what Erika Donaghy and her husband Rob were thinking when they took over the Original PJ’s Pizza in New Martinsville.
Part of that line of thinking included an eventual expansion into a different market. They dreamt of bringing the taste and fun of PJ’s, originally opened in 1969, to hungry mouths in other parts of the Upper Ohio Valley.
Erika called it pie in the sky thinking, but when she noticed post from her friend on Facebook, pleading for someone to take ownership and re-open the Varsity in Moundsville, her eyes and ears both perked.
The Varsity in question was the ole Varsity Pizza at 2203 Ohio Street in Moundsville. She saw that post July 1, one day after the doors closed at Varsity Pizza.
“I saw her post ‘will somebody please open the Varsity,’” Donaghy recalled. “I texted her and said ‘tell me more’
I knew one of the owners and we went full steam ahead from there. We took possession on October 3, and after the renovating and cleaning, we are open.”
Getting the Original PJ’s Varsity Pizza up and running, as it’s now dubbed, took a little longer than expected. It wasn’t without its challenges, and those challenges included opening day.
The original open date was October, but the doors finally swung open early Saturday morning on December 26, a better-late-than never Christmas present to the people of Moundsville.
The Donaghys received one as well. The doors opened, and the populace came teaming through them, ready to return to one of the town’s favorite eateries.
That was the good news on Day 1. The bad? The restaurants main oven started to go bad.
“We opened the doors at 11 a.m. that first day, and we were expected a smaller crowd, but people just kept pouring in,” Donaghy said. “It was a little tough at first because the oven started going bad and we wound up having to get a new oven. But it’s been going really well since.”
Melding of Menus
Keeping Varsity in the name of the restaurant is an homage to the restaurant’s history. But longtime Varsity customers will notice a few old favorites on the new. menu
The PJ’s in New Martinsville doesn’t feature a fryer, so there are no French fries served. That’s not the case at PJ’s Varsity Pizza. There, you will find old mainstays like the Ranchero Fries.
“The old owners came in and taught us how to make them,” Donaghy said. “We’d get eviscerated if we didn’t have them just right. The pizzas follow our recipe, but the Firefighter Pizza has been kept, but we adapted that to our sauces.
“French fries on a salad are a new thing to us, but not to Moundsville.”
What is new is the PJ’s style of pizza preparation and seasoning.
Donaghy described it more of a gourmet pizza than customers would be used to getting at one of the big box-type pizza outlets.
“We sauce all the way to the edge, cut the veggies fresh, and we’re very particular about it being the same every time,” Donaghy said. “Portioning is spot on too and we use only really quality ingredients. It probably costs a little more than the chain places, but you’re getting a fresher, better quality pizza.”
They also have wings, including the eye-popping exorcist wings for those who enjoy “a little” heat. There are seven flavors total, all developed by Rob Donaghy. But of all the flavors, Erika recommended the garlic parmesan wings above all.
She’s incredibly particular about her wings and that flavor and believes it’s the best flavor on the menu.
That menu also includes strombolis, subs, salads, and a host of appetizer to go with the signature pizza. Speaking of which, while it’s not featured presently on the temporary menu, Donaghy is hoping to include PJ’s Meatzilla pizza soon so Moundsville residents and beyond can sample what folks in New Martinsville have enjoyed for years.
Friendly, Capable Staff
Donaghy credits her staff, from talented general managers at both stores making her life easier, down to the wait and kitchen staff, for a smooth opening few weeks.
A few Varsity holdovers have come to work and have been trained in the ways of PJ’s when it comes to pizza. As mentioned above, the former owners as well as employees are schooling the new folks on the Varsity menu items.
PJ’s Varsity Pizza in Moundsville has nearly double the employees as the New Martinsville location. Finding capable people wasn’t difficult initially. But more are needed, especially in the kitchen. So, if anyone is looking …
“I’ve had great luck with the hiring so far, no complaints,” Donaghy said. “We have a great staff, but I need some more, especially kitchen help.
“We have a good amount of waitresses and other positions, but we need more kitchen help. The kitchen has been a lot busier than we thought it would be at first.”
It’s only going to get busier. Once the dust has settled, PJ’s Varsity Pizza will begin serving alcohol, which will also adjust the hours to a later in the evening closing.
That day is coming soon, but the initial paperwork and permits needed squared away before the liquor license could be obtained. But that day is coming soon.
For more information, check out the new Original PJ’s Varsity Pizza online via its Facebook page.
