D.P. Dough no longer has the monopoly on calzones in Athens.
From a house-turned-business, appropriately on Cook Drive off East State Street, owner Matt Pearson said he is working to bring a little bit of Mom's home cooking to a college town.
False rumors have been going around that Delivery Dough is based out of Pearson's home, which is in Nelsonville, said John Rinaldi, Delivery Dough's media coordinator. Pearson converted the house on Cook Drive into a commercial business that opened two months ago, complete with a professional-quality kitchen and a staff of 15 employees.
Pearson spent seven years working in various Athens restaurants, including D.P. Dough, Goodfella's and Papa John's, before he decided to open his own restaurant where the constraints of corporations would not affect his products.
He said he was also tired of the Court Street scene and dealing with continual property destruction. Pearson said that spending less money than he would on Court Street rent allows him to purchase higher-quality ingredients and have a more flexible menu.
On the average weeknight, Delivery Dough gets about 150 calls, whereas weekends bring in about double that per night, Pearson said.
Because he charges $4 to $7 for 12-inch calzones, depending on the ingredients, Pearson said he is barely breaking even. D.P. Dough charges $6.10 plus a fee for extra toppings.
Delivery Dough is open daily from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m., later than D.P. Dough every night, though his total hours of operation are fewer.
Every day from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Delivery Dough has its Happy Hour, when customers can buy one
get one free on any menu item.
For now, Pearson takes orders by phone, but he hopes to eventually take orders through his Web site, 594hott.com.
He said he hopes that he will draw more customers through word of mouth.
Word of the new calzone kitchen is spreading among students.
Ohio University junior Jon Slater said he has tried Delivery Dough calzones and appreciated the later hours. I've ordered from them two or three times; they were positive experiences he said. But Pearson is hoping students will try it for themselves, instead of taking their friends' word on it.
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Matt Pearson, owner of Delivery Dough, puts the finishing touches on a calzone. Matt runs his business out of a house, which he renovated, making it into a fully functional commercial kitchen.
