Grumpy Guys Pizza brings the neighbor to the neighborhood

Grumpy Guys Pizza has been operating in Soda Springs for over a year, with their original location in the orange building on the highway into town.  Near the first of the year, they officially moved downtown, more or less across from courthouse and library.

The move has been a good one, and so has the word of mouth about their food.  “I like it a lot over here.  It’s a lot more roomy,” Manager Jeremy Banks said.  “A lot more room in the kitchen, a lot more room to move around.  A lot more room to place people.” 

Since the move at the end of last year, anecdotal reports are that business has effectively doubled, especially since the Grand Opening on January 30. “We were making twenty-five to thirty orders a day,” Banks said.  “Now we do more the seventy on average.”

Diner Bill McClusky echoed praise for the move, and the food.  “This location is a lot easier to get to.  But either way, this is the best pizza in town! Large variety—good menu.”

That sentiment is widely shared, it would seem, as the phone rings nearly nonstop, and Jeremy’s trips from the counter to the kitchen are a full pedometer’s worth.   

Manager Jeremy Banks works the always busy counter and phone.

The expanded size also allows for groups to meet and eat in a central downtown location.  Last Thursday, for instance, the members of the Lions Club met for their monthly meeting, and a number of other groups have similar plans in the future. 

In addition to pizzas, which owners Camille and Shane Petersen are continually working on perfecting, Grumpy Guys’ menu includes Calzones, pasta, “Pizza Bowls” (or “Crustless Pizza”), and a variety of sandwiches (from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.), with the chance the more items will be added down the road.

As it is, the offerings are pretty extensive, and include gluten-free options, as well as accommodations for other dietary restrictions.  On the other hand, Grumpy Guys also offers a 28 inch pizza “Big Guy” pizza starting at $43.  It’s a lot of pizza.  Talk of a food challenge has been floated, but the details have not been locked in yet.

Along with the other eateries on Main Street, Grump Guys brings a nice neighborhood feel to the downtown blocks, and adds to the options that hungry eaters, and even families full of them have while spending time in the area.

Grumpy Guys hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday, and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.  They did offer to-go orders for the Superbowl, which was good news to a lot of people.

The Petersens also run the Idan-ha Theatre just down the road from the pizzeria, and the two are obviously well suited to the locations.  “After a movie, you get a pizza—what could be better?”  first-time Grump Guys diner Erin Gray said.  “I was just driving through and looking for somewhere to get a bite.  This is really cool!”

The Petersens were recognized for their contributions to Main Street over the summer when the geyser was officially re-opened, and they were invited as guests of honor for the re-unveiling.  At the time, City Councilman Paul Gritton noted that it was business owners like the Petersens who will lead the way to maintaining and expanding the charms of downtown Soda Springs.

So far, so good, as they say.