Vince Gravedoni, owner/manager of the soon-to-be-opened Gravedoni’s Pizza in Negaunee, said the restaurant will offer pizza as well as other items such as sandwiches. The restaurant will be in the former Teal Lake Pizzeria along Croix Street. (Journal photo by Christie Mastric)

MARQUETTE — The local pizza scene continues to evolve, which is good news for people who love this Italian dish.

Gravedoni’s Pizza is opening in July or August at the former Teal Lake Pizzeria at 81 Croix St. in Negaunee.

Bearing of the name of the new owner/manager, Vince Gravedoni, the restaurant overlooks Teal Lake.

“It’s a great view,” Gravedoni said. “It’s a nice spot.”

Although customers have the option of eating their food on the deck — partially painted in the color teal — it probably will be the actual menu items that draw them in.

Gravedoni said pizza, cudighi sandwiches, cheesy bites, salads, cold submarine sandwiches and weekly specials will be part of the menu.

He has plenty of pizza experience, having worked for 15 years for his dad, Clark Gravedoni, Jr., at the nearby Pasquali’s pizza restaurant at 100 Cliff St. in Negaunee. However, the elder Gravedoni is looking to retire.

“I needed to figure out what route I wanted to go,” the younger Gravedoni said. “This building happened to be for sale. It’s more of what I wanted to do. I’m more into the food side of things, less into the bar side of things.”

There also is more kitchen space in the new location, he said, which will allow him to be more creative.

However, the menu shouldn’t change too much.

“I’m looking to continue similar recipes, trying to focus on using fresh, local ingredients, “ Gravedoni said.

‘The best move’

Nic Kirkpatrick, owner of Poppi’s Pizzeria, located along 21 W. M-35 in Gwinn, said the name was given to him by his grandchildren.

“I’ve owned Poppi’s for just over a year now, and i’ts been the best move I ever made,” said Kirkpatrick, who used to drive cross country in a semi for 23 years, in an email.

He said it’s great having a place to call home.

“Prior to buying this place, i knew nothing about cooking pizza except maybe a frozen pizza, but it was a long-time dream of mine to retire from my own trucking business and start a pizzeria,” Kirkpatrick said. “Thankfully, I have the best staff ever from the previous owner and now we are like family.”

Not that it’s been all that easy.

Kirkpatrick said construction recently began on the main strip of M-35 through town, and all the businesses have been taking a 60 to 70% hit in business because the locals all say they’d rather not deal with the disruption, and instead take the long way around town.

So, the owners have been running some “amazing” deals, he said.

Recently, Kirkpatrick lowered his prices by quite a bit; extra large pizzas are now $4 cheaper, large pizzas $3 cheaper, pastas $1.50 less and salads $1 cheaper.

“We have amazing ingredients,” he said. “Our dough is our own recipe, all of our vegetables are cut fresh several times a day. We have some items imported directly from Italy.

“We have also had a handful of contractors directly from Italy here working at Superior Extrusion for a hand full of months, and said since they’ve been here, our pizza was the best they have had being in the United States,” Kirkpatrick said. “They ordered every Monday, six-plus pizzas for months. Pretty great compliment, in my opinion.”

Kirkpatrick said Poppi’s Pizzeria will offer barbecue at the end of July.

“One thing that has set us aside recently from others is we offer free delivery on Fridays and Saturdays to K.I .Sawyer, Little Lake and, of course, here directly in Gwinn,” he said. “Soon we will be starting delivery throughout the week.” However, weekday deliveries will have a $3 fee, he said, but delivery will remain free on Fridays and Saturdays.

Pizza coming to Third Street

Pizza@ is coming soon to the new Third Street Marketplace. Located at 1034 N. Third St., Marquette, the chain restaurant will offer pizza, salads, wings and desserts. It also will offer dine-in, takeout and delivery options.

Customers will be able to choose from a selection of pizza toppings, crusts and sauces.

There’s been no word yet on whether the closed Little Caesars will return to its Marquette located at the corner of West Washington and Fourth streets. The Mining Journal reached out several times to the company but had not received any comments.

However, the property at 301 W. Washington St. is listed on realty.com for $449,000.

According to the listing, buyers must meet franchise standards and agree to attend its six- to eight-week training program prior to close and have a net worth of $350,000, and $150,000 liquid.

The store closed in March 2022.

This price is for the business only, the listing indicated.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.