Pizza King restaurant returns with new ownership after 2007 arson

Lorraine and Dan Kirchner gave Pizza King a thumbs-up after trying it for the first time Monday in their new location.

“What we were really enjoying was the homemade flavor,” said Lorraine, of Mount Pleasant.

Two years after an arson fire destroyed the original Pizza King at 714 E. Preston St., a new location opened Nov. 2 at 600 N. Mission St.

The location features the same recipes and cooking techniques Pizza King is known for.

“We’re the only pizza shop that uses a brick oven — we actually set the pizza on a big slab,” said co-owner Daniel Green. “It’s a little more classy type of cooking.”

And the cooking technique is evident once people enter the store, Dan Kirchner said.

“I liked the smell when I first walked in the door,” he said.

Since Pizza King opened its doors, it has seen a steady increase of business.

“We want to make sure we know what were doing before we’re really bringing in the crowds,” Green said.

Looking for improvements

The store hopes to bring back a catchy jingle from the previous owner, since they have the same phone number.

Green and co-owner Kyle Schonbok want to improve Pizza King by adding more decorations to the blank walls and tint the front window.

In spite need for a few improvements, many people are enthusiastic about the store opening.

“We’ve noticed a lot of people that we’ve seen in the last week two or three times,” Green said.

Some customers are thankful that they will no longer need to drive far to go to Pizza King.

“We always buy from the one in Weidman,” said Rosebush resident Vonda DeLorenzo. “I’m glad they’re back in town.”

Others are enthusiastic about being able to shop at a local pizza business.

“Locally owned is important, you got to support your local businesses,” said Charles Lux of Mount Pleasant.