With remnants of decorative pizza trays and decor on the walls from Fayetteville's once-iconic King Pizza franchise of the 1970s and '80s, the nostalgia has transcended time and generations with its offspring franchise, Ye Olde King Pizza.
Brent and Melissa Hutsell purchased the current pizzeria in July from Jeff and Regina Sherwood. Now located at 3162 W. Martin Luther King Blvd., in the Stadium Centre shopping center behind Lucy's Diner, the new version is using the same classic recipes that made the original eateries so popular around the University of Arkansas campus.
Jeff Sherwood's father, Bill, started King Pizza back in the '70s and it soon became a Fayetteville tradition with locations on Dickson Street, Leverett Avenue, and College Boulevard to name a few, as well as neighboring cities such as Springdale. Bill sold the franchise in the '80s, but the tradition returned two decades later when Jeff and Regina opened Ye Olde King Pizza in Farmington. They relocated to the current Fayetteville location in 2010.
"There really is a lot of history that has been carried on to where we are now," Hutsell said. "I think that's what still makes this such a special place."
Hutsell, who grew up the son of a pastor in Springfield, Mo., moved to Arkansas at age 13 in 1989. He would eventually become a pastor himself in Crossett, where he first got introduced to the restaurant business.
"My wife and I had just gotten married and we didn't have any children yet," Hutsell recalled. "There was a lady, Becky Roberts, who was like a mother figure to me, and she would have me and my wife over for dinner about every Sunday. She was an incredible cook, and I told her one day that she really needed to start a restaurant. She finally decided to do it and my wife and I helped her get started. Country Vittles in Crossett is one of the best places in the world to eat."
"But I learned a lot from Becky, watching her and learning," he said. "And the business part of it came from helping her order and manage the financial side of it. It was very helpful to me."
He eventually moved his growing family to Northwest Arkansas as a talent development manager for J.B. Hunt. Now with three kids, Michael, Meliah and Moriah, the Hutsells began looking for ways to do things as a family. With the dream of eventually owning their own restaurant, the plan was clear.
"When we met Jeff and Regina and found out they were looking to sell, and that it was a family-owned business, that's what drew us in," Brent said. "With my wife and three kids, we wanted to be a part of something that was family-oriented, and so far it's been fun for our our entire family."
"Before we got into this business, it just felt like we were all constantly going in different directions," he said. "Now, this gives us an opportunity to be together on a regular basis."
In this area's competitive pizza market, Hutsell thinks two things give Ye Old King Pizza an advantage.
"One, it's iconic for Fayetteville, so I think a lot of people around here remember eating there during their college days," he said. "The other thing is the fact that our dough and sauce recipes are always made with high-quality ingredients. Most pizza places in this industry want to stay in the 20-percent range in cost of goods. We are probably around 30 percent, just simply because we buy very high-end products.
"That's what our customers expect and that's what we put out. When you eat us and go eat other places, you will absolutely be able to tell the difference."
Their cheeses are hand-grated every day, and fresh dough and sauce are always used. Aside from its pizzas, the restaurant is also becoming popular for its sandwiches and salads. The eatery was recently nominated by area customers for consideration in three categories -- Best Pizza, Best Sandwich and Best Salad -- for the Northwest Arkansas Best of the Best contest, presented by the NWA Democrat-Gazette.
"We just do things differently here," Hutsell said. "And I think we do have good sandwiches because of the way we make them, with the care and the attention we give to make them. It's all quality. We don't do anything half-heartedly around here."
Another unique aspect is the restaurant's open-view kitchen, that allows customers to see exactly what is happening and how clean it is kept.
"It just allows customers see that we do things the right way," Hutsell said.
One of the things Hutsell has added to the old traditions is the restaurant's kid-centric atmosphere, such as giving youngsters free Popsicles when they come in.
The other newbie is Razorback gameday celebrations. On Saturday game days, home or away, Ye Olde King Pizza has all of their TVs turned to the Arkansas game. All customers get a free ticket upon entrance, as door prizes are drawn throughout the game, such as Razorback gear. Fans can call and reserve a booth and enjoy the Gameday Special of a large Beast Pizza, with all of the toppings, and four drinks (excluding beer and wine) for just $21.95. The Beast can feed up to four people.
They also have a daily lunch special, Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., which includes an 8-inch, 2-topping pizza with with a side salad and a drink for $7.99.
Their special large, hand-made cinnamon rolls, which are made fresh and served on an 8-inch plate, are available on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays and now Saturdays during Razorback games. They are $2.75 each.
"Our logo is a crown with a heart, and that basically symbolizes the fact that everything we do we put our heart into it, and that's what sets us apart," Hutsell said. "We don't just serve food, we serve people."
The owner gives a lot of credit to his staff for the restaurant's success and the ability to keep customers coming back. His manager, Derek Tieaskie, and assistant manager, Ivan Rojas, have worked at the restaurant for nearly seven years. That continuity, and having a close-knit group, seems to be a recipe for success.
"I think customers can always see if the employees are in an upbeat mood, so I think, along with our food, it makes people want to come back," Tieaskie said. "If your employees are happy, that's going to reflect to your customers."
Hutsell agrees.
"People are the best commodity that we have, and we live by that," he said.
Ye Olde King Pizza offers dine-in and carry-out service. For more information or to reserve a booth for game days, call (479) 442-5464 (KING) or go to their website www.YeOldeKingPizza.com.
NAN Dining Guide Cover on 09/23/2016