A Pizza Oven employee helps a lunch hour customer at the drive through window.
MEDICAL LAKE – For several years, Jessica Pedersen has worked with her partner Blaine Miller to bring her restaurant dreams to life
Their dreams came true Oct. 8, when their new business, The Pizza Oven, opened at 611 state Highway 902.
Pedersen, who lives near Colfax, said she had accumulated more than 20 years of experience in the pizza industry.
Many of the roles she maintained have been management positions.
She said ashe followed her entrepreneur spirit and decided it was time to turn her pie-in-the-sky dream into a reality.
Pedersen said she was able to hire a strong core staff of workers, and that has been a big reason for their early success.
Miller’s family has also been operating pizza restaurants in Spokane for years, he said.
So when Pedersen offered him a chance to co-manage the new restaurant, he jumped on it.
Not only does he co-manage, but 31-year-old Miller, who lives near Colville, has become the dough specialist.
He said that is one of the main reasons the restaurant will stand out.
“I mix and make all of our pan dough fresh every day, and that gives it a lot of consistency,” he said, “Because we are local, we aren’t tied to chain suppliers and don’t utilize pre-made dough.”
The restaurant also offers cauliflower crust for people that have certain diets,he said.
Pedersen said the community has supported the opening since Day 1, and a resident even donated a Square system to the restaurant when some of the equipment wasn’t working properly, she said.
The 41-year-old business owner said she also had to close early on opening day because they received so many orders.
“We could not have expected the community support to be better,” she said. “The support has been very motivating.”
The entrepreneur said the restaurant has already donated meals to some recent fire victims in Medical Lake, and offers military and first responder discounts.
Pedersen also has plans to donate to local schools and community programs.
“As a small business owner, it is incredibly important to be proactive in the community because the surrounding communities make small businesses succeed,” Pedersen said. “One unique aspect that sets us apart as a pizza parlor that many other places don’t offer is the fact we have a lunch period from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, where we sell pizza by the slice. Customers can buy quick slices at the drive through window.”
The parlor offers most standard toppings for customers to create family favorites, and it offers some specialty items, Miller said.
“Our most popular pizza currently is called ‘The Bear,’ and it will soon be called ‘The Oven Special,’” Miller said, “And we also have a selection of dessert items customers can purchase.”
The Pizza Oven is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Customers can order to dine-in, carry out or for delivery within a 10-mile radius of the restaurant.
Reporter Matthew O. Stephens can be reached at [email protected]
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