Latest news with #Buddy's
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
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."
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A popular Knoxville restaurant reopens 14 months after kitchen fire became an 'inferno'
The Burlington branch of Buddy's Bar-B-Q has reopened more than a year after it nearly burnt to the ground. The 3700 Magnolia Ave. restaurant first opened in 1983 as just the third Buddy's Bar-B-Q, a third-generation restaurant brand with 19 locations across East Tennessee. Buddy's CEO Mark Lemoncelli said the community response to the returning restaurant has been as if a brand-new location were opening. In February 2024, the Buddy's in Burlington suffered a kitchen fire that engulfed the building in flames. "The manager had just left the building, and it basically turned into a giant inferno," Lemoncelli said. "It just took on a life of its own." This location didn't look like the other Buddy's. It had a flatter, square-like roof and was missing the recognizable red top. The building was minutes away from completely collapsing during the fire, Lemoncelli said. Buddy's Bar-B-Q rebuilt its Magnolia Avenue restaurant in the Burlington neighborhood after a 2024 fire. Once the fire was put out, he knew the restaurant would need to be mostly redone. The location was closed for 14 months, Lemoncelli said, since "they had to go down to four walls and rebuild." This Buddy's now has the iconic red roof, along with interior renovations and kitchen upgrades. More than 60% of the staff that worked at Buddy's before the fire returned after the restaurant reopened April 28, Lemoncelli said. "They know a lot of the community that comes in," he said. "It's been good to see. It's been encouraging." Buddy's CEO also reopens Jason's Deli on the Strip Lemoncelli also is the franchise owner of Jason's Deli at 2106 Cumberland Ave., which returned to the Strip in April after being closed more than four years. The nationwide sandwich chain had to close its campus-area restaurant in December 2020 after developers began buying up real estate on Cumberland Avenue to make way for more private housing for University of Tennessee at Knoxville students. Jason's Deli has reopened on the same block but is now inside the new Union Knoxville building, a student housing project backed by global real estate firm Greystar. In 2021, the strip mall that housed Jason's Deli, Subway and Domino's in the 2100 block of Cumberland Avenue was demolished to make way for the apartments. Joanna Hayes is the restaurant and retail reporter. Email: | Sign up for the free Eat65 newsletter Support strong local journalism by subscribing at This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville restaurant Buddy's Bar-B-Q reopens after Magnolia Avenue fire
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buddy's Bar-B-Q reopens on East Magnolia Avenue after 2024 fire
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — More than a year after a fire, the Buddy's Bar-B-Q location on Magnolia Avenue is open again. The barbecue eatery at 3700 East Magnolia Ave. reopened on April 29. It was temporarily closed following a fire on February 26, 2024. In September 2024, the restaurant told 6 News they were in the planning stages of rebuilding and hoped to reopen before the end of the year. 'Targeting the most vulnerable' Second Harvest Executive Director reacts to food distribution scam post Buddy's bar-b-q opens after 2024 fire (WATE) Buddy's bar-b-q opens after 2024 fire (WATE) Buddy's bar-b-q opens after 2024 fire (WATE) Buddy's bar-b-q opens after 2024 fire (WATE) Crews working on Buddy's bar-b-q after February fire. (WATE) Crews working on Buddy's bar-b-q after February fire. (WATE) Crews working on Buddy's bar-b-q after February fire. (WATE) Crews working on Buddy's bar-b-q after February fire. (WATE) Crews working on Buddy's bar-b-q after February fire. (WATE) Crews working on Buddy's bar-b-q after February fire. (WATE) Crews working on Buddy's bar-b-q after February fire. (WATE) Fire at Buddy's bar-b-q in February 2024 (Photo via Knoxville Fire Department) Fire at Buddy's bar-b-q in February 2024 (Photo via Knoxville Fire Department) Fire at Buddy's bar-b-q in February 2024 (Photo via Knoxville Fire Department) Fire at Buddy's bar-b-q in February 2024 (Photo via Knoxville Fire Department) 'We are beyond thrilled that this day is finally here,' said Mark Lemoncelli, CEO of Buddy's Bar-B-Q. 'At the heart of Buddy's is a dedication to feeding and serving our community. This reopening shows that no matter what happens, we'll overcome all obstacles to continue serving our loyal guests.' READ: More top stories on The Magnolia Avenue location has been a staple of the community for over 40 years. It was the third Buddy's Bar-B-Q location to open. The location is open from 10:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday through Saturday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
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@ 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
