Things are just beachy over at Bayview Beach Pizza in Gilford which opened just this past February.
Owner Max Belkin who moved from Toronto last December, along with his girlfriend Nicole and her mother Cathy, says business has been great so far, and the community has been very supportive of his new venture.
They purchased the quaint, cottage-style home on Limerick Street last year with plans to renovate and use part of it to run Belkin's pizza business.
Belkin appreciated the history of the building, which used to house a number of local businesses over the years, such as a variety store, post office, and arcade.
But Belkin is no stranger to the area or to entrepreneurship. Just before the pandemic, he had his own popcorn business, which he operated out of his uncle's home off the 3rd Line in Innisfil.
When the pandemic hit, his popcorn business closed as there were no fairs or festivals taking place where he could sell his product.
He decided to switch gears and take a chance opening up his own take-out pizza shop, noting there are not many spots in Gilford to order food.
Belkin used to work at a pizzeria when he was younger and says he knows what it takes to make a good pie.
"It was a great opportunity to set up this little pizza business," he said. "It's been a total blast."
He says he enjoys the small-town vibe of Gilford and appreciates the community's continuous support.
"I have people coming here several times a week because they want to support a local business," he said.
What makes his pizza stand out from the competition?
The ingredients, he says. "That's the big thing."
"I only use the best ingredients," he said, in particular the high-quality cheese and special sauce.
When he first opened, he learned quickly from customer feedback how to cook each pizza to perfection, just enough to give it a crispy bite. He says opening the pizza shop has been a great learning experience as well, and how to run a take-out business.
His most popular item on the menu is his Canadian Pizza, with pepperoni, bacon, and mushrooms. But his personal favourite he says is The Hawaiian.
"It's the sweet with that doughy, cheesy taste, it's an interesting mix but it's really good," he said.
Located right on the shores of Cooks Bay, he caters to a lot of the fishermen in the area and also sells tackle from the shop.
He runs the business on his own, but his girlfriend helps with his social media and marketing. The couple met eight years ago when they were both counsellors at summer camp.
Bayview Beach Pizza is open Thursday - Sunday 1 - 9 p.m. and is located at 354 Limerick St. They are also on the WFDT delivery app for Innisfil. To check out their menu, visit their website here or follow them on Instagram @bayviewbeachpizza. They can be reached by phone at 705-290-1577.
