LaFAYETTE — Downtown Pizzeria is LaFayette is one of the newest businesses in the city and co-owner Mary Harmon plans on the restaurant becoming a big part of the area.

Opened this past July and located across from Chambers County Courthouse, things have been “up and down” according to Harmon.

“Earlier in the week it’s very slow,” she said. “As it gets toward to end of the week it picks up. Some weeks are better than others but it’s kind of rocky being new.”

The idea to open came from a “strong family history” of store ownership.

Harmon jokingly said the specific idea to open a pizzeria was because she thought it would be, in her own words, “easy.”

They serve pizza, wings, sub sandwiches and salad, and on the weekends they will soon be serving “Country food,” i.e. vegetables and hamburger steaks, and ice cream.

This, however, doesn’t mean they are switching from their identity as a pizzeria.

“It’s just we’ve had some requests because they’re nothing open on Sundays,” she said.

“So we’re going to open the first and third Sunday.”

Other changes since opening include adding the deli foods and the expansion of the gift shop also located on the site.

Harmon also added that they hold monthly painting parties, concerts and trivia nights for local football players.

“We’re doing multiple things to get more people in,” she said. “Those are really doing well.”

The idea to hold events at the restaurant came due to a lack of such venues in the area.

“In LaFayette, you have to go so far to do anything,” she said. “Kids don’t have anything to do.”

One of their biggest struggles has been the location, with Harmon noting they initially wanted to open on the other side of the courthouse.

“People still come in and don’t know we’re here even though they live here,” she said.

“But it’s gradually getting better.”

Currently they see about 25 people on a
slow day with 45-50 on a good one. Activity days see close to 100 attendees.

For the first two months, Harmon noted, they were very busy but that eventually cooled down. Thankfully now they are seeing things pick back up.

Downtown Pizzeria is located at 16 1st Ave. SE, LaFayette. It is open 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and the first and third Sunday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. They can be reached at 334-459 0505.

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