Jet's Pizza in Chelsea is expanding to include more seats for customers.

Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com

An expanded restaurant in Chelsea is serving as a sort of testing ground for sit-down eateries in the Jets Pizza chain.

“We’ve been really busy. Business has been very good,” said Jason Povlich. The 1,700-square-foot sit-down space, which can accommodate up to 70 customers, opened late last year. This summer, the restaurant secured a liquor license to serve wine and beer.

The restaurant, at 506 N. Main St., has a sports-bar feel with six big-screen TVs, an all-brick interior and cherry tables and chairs.

“We will feature all the Detroit games, baseball, football, hockey and basketball,” said Povlich. In times when the games are not on, channels will be tuned to ESPN and the news.

“We will run three different shows all the time,” said Povlich.

Chelsea Jet's Pizza owner Jason Povlich stands inside the new bar and dinning room area of his restaurant.

Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com

The restaurant is the first sit-down facility within the Jet’s Pizza chain, which originated in 1974 in Sterling Heights. Jet's has more than 250 take-out and delivery restaurants in Michigan, Ohio, Florida, Texas, Indiana, Minnesota and Tennessee.

Getting to this point in restaurant ownership has been a 10-year evolution for Povlich. “I started off as an assistant manager at eight bucks an hour,” he said. He eventually became a general manager for Jet’s Pizza, then owned a store with several other partners. Within five years, he decided to open a store on his own.

Four years ago, he opened the takeout and delivery store in Chelsea, but had long thought a sit-down restaurant would be a good fit for Chelsea.

“I had a pretty good relationship with Jet’s Pizza, and with the corporation. They gave me permission to do the restaurant. They are monitoring the numbers to see the success,” said Povlich, adding that he wouldn’t be surprised if more Jet’s Pizza sit-down restaurants opened up in the future.

The restaurant runs specials every day and will feature a kids' night every Monday starting Aug. 23.

“We will have face painting, cartoons, and prizes,” said Povlich.

Bob Pierce, executive director of the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, said the sit-down restaurant is a welcome addition to Chelsea.

"Jet's Pizza has really brought out a new dimension for pizza in this town. With the addition of the sports room, it has really added a great new space for family dining."