Goodrich- Tim Jones spent 10 years pursuing a bachelor’s degree, working in restaurants to put himself through school.
But after he received his degree from the University of Michigan in resource planning and was in the middle of a job search, an opportunity arose not in the field he’d studied, but in the one he had worked.
Jones could either work for a pharmaceutical company as a sales representative, or open his own restaurant. He chose the latter and on Dec. 22 opened Papa T’s Pizza Plus at 8341 South State Road.
‘This is what I know and love, so it seemed to fit,? Jones said. ‘It happened at the right time and I thought it was the right decision.?
Papa T’s Pizza Plus offers 12 different specialty pizzas for carry-out or delivery, including four different chicken pizzas- Chicken Gyro pizza, Chicken Fajita pizza, Chicken Florentine pizza, and Buffalo Chicken pizza. There is also the most popular pizza, ‘The Kitchen Sink,? with pepperoni, ham, grren and black olives; ground beef, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, sausage, and pepper rings. Perhaps the most unusual of all the specialty pizzas is the Baked Potato Pizza, with sliced potatoes, bacon, scallions, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses with sour cream.
‘I have a lot of pizza recipes you don’t see often,? says Jones. ‘Stuff I’ve seen or combos I thought would work well together, non-traditional stuff.?
A ‘create your own? pizza option is also available. Patrons can customize their pizzas with a variety of toppings that are offered. At no additional charge, customers can select flavored crusts- parmesan, garlic butter, cajun, sesame or ranch.
Jones says Papa T’s is different from other pizza restaurants in that he offers thin crust, deep dish, and hand-tossed all in the same place. He also aims to please and will customize pizzas for customers, adding more cheese or toppings to fit their liking.
‘It’s not a rubber-stamp approach to pizza-making,? says Jones, who uses fresh ingredients and makes everything in his shop, including his own pasta sauce. ‘I like putting out good, quality food. I take a little more time because I like it to look nice and be consistent.?
In addition to pizza, Papa T’s also offers appetizers including breadsticks, Buffalo Wings, and meatballs and Italian sausage; eight different sub sandwiches; seven varieties of salads; and seven different entrees, including lasagna, baked ravioli and mostaccioli; and chicken marsala.
Papa T’s Pizza Plus is open Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday from noon-8 p.m. Hours are subject to change based on demand. Catering is available.
For more information or to place an order, call (810) 636-6370.