Beloved Detroit-Based Pizza Chain Buddy's Forced to Close Location
One of the best aspects of a regional restaurant chain is that even though the brand is known and loved across a part of the U.S., it still feels like a local spot, because it's not a national chain. When it comes to pizza, there are plenty of options across the U.S., both the big names that have locations across the country and smaller, more regional options.
Now, a beloved regional pizza chain that recently expanded is being forced to close one of its locations. This particular location has been open for nearly five years and first opened its doors during the pandemic.
Buddy's Pizza is a longstanding pizza brand based in Detroit. It got its start nearly 80 years ago in the Motor City and started specializing in Detroit-style pizza. When it comes to what makes a pizza Detroit-style, Buddy's states it's "the same things that made Detroit – a little bit of ingenuity, some stubborn spirit and a whole lot of hear." They add, "It's what sparked an original idea back in 1946 to take a steel auto pan, create something new and make Buddy's the birthplace of Detroit-style Pizza."
Detroit-style pizza, by the way, is pan pizza characterized by "a thick, spongey crust with crispy edges," according to All Recipes, and is "not as thick as Chicago-style pizza."
Now, Buddy's is closing its Portage, MI, location, which opened in July of 2020. In a statement, the restaurant says that it has been difficult to navigate the pandemic protocols, as well as "supply-chain disruptions, staffing shortages, inflationary impacts to include lease terms, and more." Those complications "prevented the Buddy's team from ever being able to operate the Portage location at its fullest potential."
The good news is that according to the statement, Buddy's has provided resources to its employees to find similar jobs in the area.
The restaurant added, "The Buddy's Pizza team is grateful to its loyal Portage customers for their support over the years and will miss being a part of the community."
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