copyright the Chronicle April 1, 2015
by Nathalie Gagnon-Joseph
DERBY — Companions Ryan Lewis and Marcia Brown bought Derby’s Village Pizza two months ago. After a month of renovations, the restaurant, now called Lewis Village Pizza, is open again.
“I always told people that one of these days this is what I was going to do,” Mr. Lewis said Tuesday.
The purchase is a big career change for him, but he wanted to move towards a more family oriented job, he said. Mr. Lewis used to be in construction and did all the store’s renovations himself, including the woodwork and a new ceiling.
He changed the menu, too.
“It’s the original menu from the old sub station that everyone knew years ago,” he said.
About the only addition to that, according to Ms. Brown, is the hamburgers. Sixteen years ago, she worked at Village Pizza.
“She’s crazy and listened to what I said,” Mr. Lewis said when the two were asked how they decided to buy the place.
“That’s the main reason,” Ms. Brown agreed. “My brother was in the business for years.”
One lucky customer will take home an example of the Lewis’ family woodwork, which is displayed outside the restaurant. Mr. Lewis’ father, Richard Lewis, made a picnic table that will be raffled off on April 15.
Dine-in customers will be given tickets to participate. The owners plan to make the raffle a monthly thing. After the picnic table this month, they could give away raised beds for gardening, and later, a patio set, all made by Mr. Lewis’ father and brother Jordan Lewis.
contact Nathalie Gagnon-Joseph at [email protected]
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