Release Date: November 10,2020
Pizza, BBQ and Sandwiches: PigOut PIZZA May Have the Perfect Combination of Your Favorite Foods
(Akron, Ohio) - PigOut PIZZA owners Philip and Sylvia Chow have a passion for pizza and BBQ that goes back years.
"Our love of pizza began some 18 years ago when we were living in Sydney, Australia. Every day, we'd have a piping hot pizza ready for our kids after school. It became a tradition we kept for years," they said.
As one of the newest downtown Akron eateries, PigOut PIZZA offers numerous exciting varieties of that perfected after-school pizza, and then goes several entrées further by offering first-rate BBQ ribs with signature sauce, as well as quesadillas, toasted sandwiches. The Chows also offer a variety of freshly-brewed gourmet coffees and hot, flavored teas along with regular weekly specials.
"When you think about fast food, you don't automatically think about smoked BBQ and specialty pizza," said Philip. "At a time of so many challenges, we want to bring these American favorites to the forefront of a quick-service restaurant, all under one roof."
The Chow's have been in the food industry for some time, with a background ranging from urban high-rise farming to distribution of organic produce and food and beverage businesses. With PigOut PIZZA, they tap into their talents for making great pizza, with a handmade crust that perfectly balances crispiness and chewiness, along with signature sauces they create in-house. To the menu they also add BBQ ribs that Philip smokes in the restaurant, along with crafted house rubs and marinades. Walk past the restaurant at the right time and you might catch a whiff of ribs being smoked.
"We love bringing great food to the great folks of Akron and surrounding communities," Philip said. "From field to table, we aim to bring some exciting new flavors to the world of quick-service restaurants. We want to create food everyone can enjoy in a safe, clean and friendly environment. PigOut PIZZA looks forward to launching their online ordering system shortly."
Philip and Sylvia were attracted to Akron for its vibrancy and youthfulness, as well as its dynamic arts and culture scene, rich history, exciting sports scene and educational opportunities for their children.
"T he friendly folks, fun-loving atmosphere, a very supportive and welcoming community against a great cityscape, makes Akron an exciting place to work and play," Sylvia said.
Given the challenges of operating a business in the midst of a pandemic, the Chow's have worked hard to keep customers and staff safe. In addition to mask-wearing and physical distancing, the restaurant has UV sterilizers installed in the HVAC system and UV lights are timed to activate nightly after closing to sanitize all surfaces in the front and back of the restaurant. Surfaces are also sanitizer-misted by restaurant staff at regular intervals.
"They say it takes a village to raise a child... just like starting a business," said Sylvia. "We look forward to working through these very challenging times as we all stay safe and look towards clearer skies ahead."
PigOut PIZZA is located at 20 E. Exchange Street and is open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. They offer a 10% discount to students with valid ID. Street parking is available on Exchange Street and High Street. Along with 12" specialty pizzas and smoked BBQ ribs, PigOut PIZZA also serves quesadillas, toasted, smoked sandwiches and a variety of freshly-brewed gourmet coffees and hot, flavored teas along with regular weekly specials.
PigOut PIZZA is a member of Start Downtown, a Burton D. Morgan Foundation funded program administered by Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) that provides six months of support including site selection assistance, rent subsidies and marketing support to new and expanding businesses locating in retail or office space in the 42-block Special Improvement District of downtown Akron.
Other Start Downtown businesses include Evelyn's Coffee and Banh Mi, Rubber City Comics, Hair Geek and Sweet Mary's Bakery. Start Downtown, and its previous iteration, the Pop-Up Retail Program, have helped place more than 45 businesses in downtown Akron since 2015.