Buddy's Pizza debuts round pizzas for first time — but only at 2 Michigan locations
For the first time in its nearly 80-year history, Buddy's Pizza is debuting round pizzas.
Starting Monday, the iconic pizza chain is debuting 'Rendezvous Rounds,' paying homage to the original Buddy's Rendezvous Pizzeria on Six Mile and Conant in Detroit, where the Detroit-style pizza began in 1946.
But you won't find the Rendezvous Round at metro Detroit Buddy's locations. Only two locations on the west side of the state will offer the new rounds: the Grand Rapids location at 4061 28th St. SE and the Portage location at 5314 S. Westnedge Ave.
'Pizza should make people happy, and we were hearing and seeing in the feedback from our customers in West Michigan, many of whom may not have grown up with our Detroit-style square pizza, that they would enjoy more style options, sizes and price points in their pizza experience with us at Buddy's,' said Joe Dominiak, CEO, Buddy's Pizza in a news release.
Buddy's is known for its square pizzas baked in dark, deep-dish pans. A hallmark of Detroit-style pizza also is how the pizzas are put together; Buddy's pizzas' edges are laced with a crispy, caramelized cheese crust, and the sauce is on top.
Rendezvous Rounds is known for its signature sauce, a three-cheese blend and its Sicilian spice.
On the new pizza menu, the rounds include the 10-inch ($10.49) and 14-inch ($13.99) specialty rounds available as supreme, meat lovers, or Napoli. Build-your-own pizzas start at $8.49 for a 10-inch and $11.49 for a 14-inch, with toppings extra. For kids ages 10 and under, the Lil' Rendezvous meal is $4.99 for a 7-inch round, personal cheese pizza, Buddy Bread, and a choice of fries, fruit, or steamed veggies.
Buddy's' launch of round pizzas is part of its strategy for growth, the company said in a news release.
Buddy's will celebrate the launch of its new rounds with in-restaurant events and giveaways, including:
On Monday, Feb. 17, the first 46 customers (after Buddy's' founding year) when doors open at 11 a.m. at the Grand Rapids and Portage locations receive a free 10-inch Rendezvous Round cheese pizza.
From Feb. 17-23, one customer per day at the Grand Rapids and Portage locations will be randomly selected to receive a voucher for free Buddy's Pizza for a year.
Testing the round pizzas at these locations, Buddy's said, will determine the possibility of them moving forward with possible new openings outside beyond Detroit and Michigan.
'Buddy's Pizza has been bringing people together for nearly 80 years, and we want to keep doing that, in as many neighborhoods as possible, for as long as we can,' Dominiak said. 'In order to do that, and to continue to grow successfully in the future beyond Detroit, we are going to have to try some new things and embrace some changes, all for the better…both for our customers and our company.'
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Buddy's Pizza debuts round pizzas at 2 west Michigan locations
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