Seabeck Pizza expands to Chico

"In the age of pizza mega-chains, Seabeck Pizza is a refreshing change. It's a family business in every sense of the word, founded by Jerry Anderson in 1989. Anderson's partners and co-owners - his daughter and son-in-law - recently opened their fifth pizzeria at 3523 Chico Way, and they also employ two cousins.It's not just a job, it's a lifestyle - you are always having to come in when someone calls and drop your own plans, Anderson says with a grin.Anderson says he's had his eye on Chico for a new store for a long time.I've always wanted to, he said. I thought it was a great neighborhood.Nick Reynolds, Anderson's son-in-law, says fresh ingredients - and lots of them - are what makes the pizza so popular.Everything is fresh. We make the dough every morning and Jerry came up with most of the recipes himself, Reynolds said. It's not mass produced. We don't skimp - a large pizza has a a full pound of cheese.Joleen Reynolds, Anderson's daughter, has been working in the pizza business as long as she can remember, and says she always had the idea of following in his footsteps in the back of her mind. She and Nick have two young children, a 2-year-old daughter, Kendal, and a 7-month-old son, Riley. Finding a balance between work and family can be a challenge, but Joleen says one of the best part of her job is her family. Being able to work around my family is a lot of fun, she said.The couple also can structure their schedules around babysitter availability. Usually we are able to work at the same time - weekends are easy because babysitters are available. Grandparents are also available to babysit, said Nick.Joleen hopes the restaurant will remain a family enterprise, but that it will continue to expand.I'd like to have Seabeck Pizza accessible to everyone and I'd like to keep it family-owned, she said.But the owners recognize there are limitations. The hardest part of running the business is finding good people, Anderson says.I don't know if we can expand much more, Anderson said. Our family is only so big.Currently, Seabeck Pizza employs about 20 people at four Washington locations in Seabeck, Belfair, Chico and Pleasant Harbor, 2.7 miles south of Brinnon, off Highway 101. A family friend recently opened a Seabeck Pizza in Broadus, Mont., in the southeast corner of the state, and has plans to open a sixth restaurant this spring in Miles City, Mont., about 100 miles north of Broadus. "

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.