The Pizza Box delivers
good food, satisfaction
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
PRESQUE ISLE – Fresh from the oven, The Pizza Box aims to deliver.
Located at 527 Main St. in Presque Isle, co-owners Rudy Hoffert and Jason Michaud opened The Pizza Box Oct. 1.
“I think I make the best pizza there is,” said Hoffert. “I do most of the dough pounding. My dough is consistent and I load the toppings on.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
RUDY HOFFERT, left, and Jason Michaud opened The Pizza Box Oct. 1 in Presque Isle. Located at 527 Main St., the pizza shop, which provides take-out and delivery service, offers pizzas, appetizers and both hot and cold subs.
“When customers leave, they pick up their box and are surprised at how heavy it is because they get a nice, fully-loaded pizza,” he said, noting that they use their own spices and everything is made-to-order. “We don’t just put one or two toppings on each slice; we put a little extra money into the pizza. Plus it tastes really good.”
Michaud described the business as “unique.”
“We’ve got a good sauce, a good flavor, and the atmosphere is nice here, too,” he said. “People walk in here and it looks like a little corner market and people like that.”
Pizzas range in size from 10-inch (small) to 16-inch (extra large) and customers can choose from several different sauces including barbecue, alfredo, ranch, teriyaki and A-1 Steak Sauce. Toppings can include the usual pepperoni, onion, mushroom, hamburger and bacon, while the more adventurous pizza lovers may opt for spinach, broccoli, hot dog or kielbasa.
In addition to pizza, both hot and cold subs are made at The Pizza Box.
“Most of our sandwiches go in the oven; they’re open faced and toasted,” said Hoffert, noting that more people tend to order subs at lunchtime and pizza at night.
With names such as Lazy Bird, Beast, The Nuke and Big Jay, which is named after Michaud, the sub names are fun and are catching on with customers.
“People are starting to get used to the names and now they’re calling and asking for the Boss or The Firebird,” said Hoffert. “We thought it would be cool to have a bunch of different names. With our ‘Star City Classics,’ we thought it would be neat to name a sub after Presque Isle since Presque Isle is the Star City. With that sub, you get your choice of four different meats. We thought it would be a pretty cool name.”
Customers can also have their subs “the PB Way,” which, according to Hoffert, includes olive oil, vinegar and their own special seasoning.
Michaud said The Nuke is the most popular sub, while a lot of customers are ordering alfredo and taco specialty pizzas. A chicken parmesan pizza will soon be added to the menu.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
PRESQUE ISLE’S NEWEST PIZZA SHOP, The Pizza Box, recently opened on Main Street across from the Elks Lodge. Here, co-owner Rudy Hoffert takes a pizza out of the oven, while his business partner, Jason Michaud, takes a customer’s order over the phone. The Pizza Box offers pizzas, hot and cold subs, and a variety of appetizers.
The Pizza Box also features appetizers such as chicken wings, potato wedges, onion rings, mini tacos and garlic cheese stix.
“We have pretty much a full menu,” said Hoffert. “Down the road we might offer spaghetti and meatballs and lasagna.”
Hoffert can take credit for the name, The Pizza Box.
“We got looking online and I was trying to find a unique name … something cool,” he said. “I was looking for a funny name and narrowed it down and this is what we came up with.”
The business space had previously been a hair salon. Michaud said it took two or three weeks to transform the space into a pizza shop.
“Some days we were in here until 1 or 2 a.m.,” he said, “but I think it looks great. The customers agree it’s a nice atmosphere to come into.”
Both Hoffert and Michaud are originally from Caribou, and had been living in North Carolina for the last few years. Hoffert had been working in heating and air conditioning, while Michaud was working for Carquest.
Michaud came back to The County last fall, and Hoffert returned to visit his family this spring.
“I came up here for vacation,” he said, “and my family talked me into staying. I couldn’t find a job. I applied to 20-30 different places but couldn’t find anything. I talked to Jason and we decided to go into business together. I didn’t want to do it myself because it’s a lot of work.”
“He can make good food, I like to eat, I know a lot of people, so we figured, ‘Why not?’” said Michaud. “I love being a business owner. I’ve had a bunch of different jobs, but owning a business is awesome. We’re getting a lot of repeat customers and attracting new ones every day. We’ve seen the same people come in here seven times a week.”
Hoffert said he couldn’t ask for a better location.
“You can’t beat it. We’re right in town – right in the middle – and looking both ways you can see it,” he said. “It’s easy access for everybody. Plus the rent’s not bad.
“I’ve worked in food service more for than 20 years,” said Hoffert. “I started back in the days of Yusef’s and also worked at Frederick’s, Pizza Hut and Dominoes. I know my way around a kitchen.”
Michaud, who once worked at Subway and is now employed at Carquest in Presque Isle, said he helps out on his lunch hour and after work.
“In addition to me and Rudy, we employ one part-time and one full-time worker, plus my sister and Rudy’s roommate all help out,” he said. “Things have been going really well. We’re very busy; a lot busier that we ever would have imagined.”
The Pizza Box features only one table in the waiting area.
“We just do take-out and delivery,” said Hoffert. “We didn’t want to be clearing tables. We’re doing 10-15 deliveries a day. We’re just as busy making deliveries as we are making the pizzas and subs.”
Michaud said The Pizza Box is holding a “create a sub contest.”
“The contest will run for the entire month and the winner will receive a free sub a week while their sub is on the menu,” he said. “When you purchase a sub or pizza on our menu, you get to submit a sub for the contest. The sub must contain reasonable ingredients and we must be able to make it here in our shop.
“For the first three weeks of the month, we will take all sub ideas and narrow it down to the final five choices, and on the last week of the month, we will post the top five subs and allow the customers to vote for their favorite sub idea,” said Michaud. “The winning sub idea will then get their free subs the following month when the next contest will begin.”
The owners are also running a pizza special which will benefit the Presque Isle High School Class of 2010.
“Every Wednesday we have a special for a 12-inch, one topping pizza for $4.75,” said Michaud. “Of those that we sell, 10 cents of every pizza will be put toward the graduating class. Hopefully they’ll receive a nice donation at the end of the school year.”
The Pizza Box is open Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Thursday from 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday from 2-7 p.m.
“Thursdays we’re going to be open from 11 p.m.-1:30 a.m.,” Hoffert said. “We actually had someone call in an order at 1:10 a.m. last Thursday. People will be able to come here at 1:30 a.m. Thursdays and pick up a pizza.”
“We’ve been getting calls from people who work the late shift,” said Michaud, noting that they can deliver to the customers’ place of employment. “They’ve been ordering from us because at that time of night, it’s basically their supper. By being open later, we’re able to fill a void.”
To place an order from The Pizza Box, call 760-8344.
