Mary Burleson
Contributing Writer
Looking for a new restaurant to try for dinner this week? Look no further than R&D’s Pizzeria! They are a family run restaurant located next to the Dollar General on South Main Street in Nashville. Featuring a new building with a spacious dining room, as well as a menu with a large selection, R&D’s Pizzeria has something for everyone in the family.
Robert and Denise Erickson met while working together at the Pizza Hut in Ionia. They started off as a waitress and a delivery driver, eventually becoming managers and working in stores in Ionia, Hastings, and Middleville. Their careers later took them in different directions, but they always joked about opening a pizzeria together. In August of 2014, they took a chance and opened R&D’s Pizzeria. R&D stands for their names, Robert and Denise.
Since it opened, R&D’s had been a carryout or delivery only restaurant. At the end of April of this year, the restaurant was able to move to a new building and expand to not only have a spacious dining room, but also a party room that customers can rent for their events. “We have had birthday parties, a wedding rehearsal dinner, and business meetings so far in our party room.”
Opening the new location was a challenge. Everything had to be designed and redone as the building used to be the Dollar General store. Expanding also meant that new staff had to be hired and trained. However, Robert and Denise are quickly making the restaurant feel like home. Robert made and painted the R&D’s logo on the front counter and Denise is working with the Nashville Historical Society to get old photos of Nashville to decorate the dining room.
The menu is a huge attraction at R&D’s Pizzeria. They offer pizza, pasta, salads, subs, appetizers, calzones, wraps, burgers and even a kid’s menu. For anyone with a gluten allergy, there is a tasty gluten-free crust option. “Pizza is definitely our most popular menu item, though.” They proudly make all their sauces and dough, as well as offer fresh toppings. They even make their own meatballs.
Check out more information and specials on R&D’s Pizzeria Facebook page @streetsidepizza. You can also give them a call at 517-852-0540. They are located at 230 ½ South Main Street in Nashville. R&D’s Pizzeria is the place to be.
