Family-run Ann Arbor Pizza and Subs replaces Marco's on Packard Road in Ann Arbor
Brent Anderson, center left, with employees Devin Brees, Steven Watercamp and Darryl Brees at the counter of Ann Arbor Pizza and Subs.
Angela Smith for AnnArbor.com
It's the same location of a former Marco's Pizza, which closed a franchise there earlier this year. The manager at the time, Brent Anderson, recognized that although Marco’s Pizza had difficulties, the venue still had plenty of potential for a non-corporate pizzeria.
Ann Arbor Pizza and Subs, which specializes in pizzas, subs and salads, opened for business in May.
Anderson says that he ran Marco’s on Packard for about a year before the business closed upon the death of the franchise owner. In 2010, the business saw rough times.
Marco’s corporate office would not comment beyond confirming the closing of the facility, but a decline in business could be attributed to the timing of other businesses leaving the same retail outlet, located just south of Stadium.
Paula’s Place and Hollywood Video both closed in the early winter of 2010. Pizza sales slumped. There were problems with the phone service, and there were disagreements about how to remedy the decline, Anderson said.
“They could not come to terms, and so the franchise was mutually terminated,“ Anderson said, referring to the owner and the franchise company.
Anderson said he was committed to offering a healthier product, which he felt would better fit the demands of Ann Arbor residents, including clients of one of the remaining nearby businesses, Quest Martial Arts.
He said his background in the pizza business primed him for designing a menu that fits the niche.
“I worked at Domino's, was a supervisor at Pizza Hut, a franchisee at Cottage Inn,” he said.
He’s lived in the Ann Arbor area all of his life, and thinks local pizza eaters like lots of variety.
When Anderson gets started about how his pizzas are unique from other Ann Arbor pizza places, it’s hard to slow him down.
“Have you seen our menu? We have three types of mushrooms, three different kinds of pepperoni, fresh grilled ground beef, rib eye filet for subs,” he said.
He’s particularly proud of the shop’s crust offerings: “As far as I know, we are the only local place to offer sourdough crust. Nothing comes in a package, just add water. It’s an artisan pizzeria: hand-measured, no corporate constraints.”
The shop also offers gluten-free crust and uses creamery butter and honey in its crusts, he said.
Ann Arbor Pizza and Subs
2111 Packard Road
Ann Arbor
Phone: 734-213-9000
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to midnight; Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, noon to 10 p.m.
Angela Smith is a freelance contributor to AnnArbor.com.
Comments
mb20fan
Wed, Jul 20, 2011 : 12:25 p.m.
The pizza at the party store on industral is way better
Catrena
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 7:44 p.m.
GREAT pizza and an even better price. They use two types of pepperoni that make the pizza sooo delicious! They have really affordable specials, too. I get their $2.99 lunch special like 3 times a week. It rocks.
Quest Martial Arts
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 7:35 p.m.
We are extremely proud to have Ann Arbor Pizza as neighbors
Clayton Macy
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 5:06 p.m.
Great Food at Great Prices! It always helps when you feel welcomed and valued when you walk in the door. The Best Pizza In Town! It's also in a great business complex. Quest Martial Arts, next door is Ann Arbor's best school, and there is now a math tutoring facility there also. Fantastic group of local businesses offering the best products and services in the city and the bonus, there's free parking!
2WheelsGood
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 12:08 a.m.
Speaking of local places closing, it appears Pub Pizza (in Frasers) has disappeared too. The sign is still up, but it's now always dark.
newsboy
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 8:48 p.m.
Why dos everyone who loves pizza, look like they love PIZZA!
mb20fan
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 6:13 p.m.
The owner that died was a vrey very good friend of mine also.And her pizza was way better.Prices were not her fault it was what Marcos main offices set them at.
John B.
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 7:52 p.m.
So then your opinion of the new establishment should be ignored?
snacks
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 5:36 p.m.
Just tried your pizza the dough was soggy, I lifted up the cheese and saw you had clumps of spices that didn't taste very good and was hard on my stomach, cheese and pepperoni was very bland. The Cheese bread was good..
Trouble
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 2:20 p.m.
Imma gonna try!
Dave
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 2:09 p.m.
I think you can look at the success of Silvio's and see that if you offer a quality product people will buy it. That being said, the best Pizza is still at Bella Italia but I'll give this a try.
mb20fan
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.
We tried it a few times.We thought it was not good the sauce has little to no flavor.Not crazy about the way they put the cheese over the toppings.The dough or crust was not all that.I will stick with pizza house or pizza hut.
John B.
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 3:44 p.m.
Pizza House and Pizza Hut are near polar opposites in the pizza spectrum. Pizza Hut seems to use 10W-40 under their crust. Yuck. Haven't eaten at a Pizza Hut in a decade or two. Pizza House is fine, but overpriced (someone has to pay for their $2 Million in recent remodeling expenses...).
smokeblwr
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 1:56 p.m.
The pizza really is good. I like that the crust isn't soaked in grease. I don't feel like garbage after eating a few slices.
Anthony Clark
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 1:20 p.m.
I've ordered pizza from them a couple of times now. Excellent service and food! I highly recommend them. I wish Brent and his team much success.
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 12:41 p.m.
The logo says, "Ann Arbor & Subs Pizza."
John B.
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 3:39 p.m.
Perhaps they are targeting those of us out in the townships.... ;-)
Jack Gladney
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 1:11 p.m.
Nice spot there. Attention to detail is what separates you from your competition when you offer something as pedestrian as pizza.
Steve Pepple
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 11:31 a.m.
The story has been corrected to reflect that Domino's Pizza is headquartered in Ann Arbor. Thank you to the readers who pointed out that the pizza chain was founded in Ypsilanti, not Ann Arbor.
local
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 10:45 a.m.
Had the pizza from there the other night, not bad at all.
rs
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 10:44 a.m.
Good pizza places don't go out of business. People will even pay a little more if you make an amazing pizza. More than likely what killed that specific Marco's franchise would have been their overinflated prices coupled with below average quality. I ordered from there twice when I first moved to A2, and that was 2 times too many. To quote Kevin from the The Office - "It tastes like a hot circle of trash". Hopefully this new place will be more competitive in the pizza business.
tdw
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 3:08 p.m.
Well, without going into details I'll just tell you that that the owner died..She was one of the best friends I've ever had
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 12:06 p.m.
I used to order from Marcos on occasion. I thought their pizza was pretty good. But I confess I like most pizza, just some more than others.