Paradise Pizza Shack rolls into Bradenton. Are you up for their 28-inch ‘Big Kahuna’?
Offering completely fresh ingredients and a wide variety of pizzas, including a massive 28-inch pie called the “Big Kahuna,” Paradise Pizza Shack officially rolled into West Bradenton on Oct. 30.
The mobile kitchen set up 2209 75th St. W., but expect to see it at events near you in the future.
The business is owned and operated by JoAnna and Steve Erickson, who have decades of restaurant and catering experience in Florida and come from a long line of Minnesota restaurateurs with 65 eateries across their home state.
The Ericksons have been in Florida since the 1980s continuing that family tradition, but they’ve never lost that friendly Minnesota flair that brings a little something extra special to customer service and a little more love to their food.
“It’s been part of my family and part of what I do well for over 40 years,” Steve Erickson said. “We wanted to make some pizza and do a drive-thru that is contact-less so thought a pizza trailer was the best thing to do, especially now with COVID.”
If the pandemic has any silver linings when it comes to opening a business, one could argue the Paradise Pizza Shack is suited for the current environment. The drive-thru really isn’t a drive-thru. Just pull onto the grass and drive up to the window and you’re all set to receive your order.
“We had this plan in motion before COVID hit,” Erickson said. “About two weeks before COVID hit, so as soon as COVID hit we were a little ahead of the game. We have fantastic recipes that we’ve had for years, years and years and now we have it contact-less, safe and you can order online, pay online and pick it up at the drive-thru window.”
They are at the 75th Street location from 4-9 p.m. daily, but the plan is to go mobile as soon as the pandemic allows.
“We can go anywhere and are a self-sufficient, mobile kitchen licensed anywhere in the state of Florida,” JoAnna Erickson said. “So we’re just going to start exploring who wants us where and when, festivals, fairs or anything going on, we can be there.”
But they’ll always be back at their main location to serve their already growing customer base at the regular daily hours.
The Ericksons have a lot of local experience, running kitchens for several local corporations. They opened their first pizza restaurant on Manatee Avenue in 1999.
That’s why it’s important to stay tuned to their website at paradisepizzashack.com. They were just licensed to show Hollywood movies for free and plan on doing an outside community movie night on the property and are planning several future fun family events.
JoAnna Erickson said those activities were already planned, but COVID has put them temporarily on hold for now.
They also want to partner with local schools and day cares to help with fundraising efforts and look for the menu to soon start offering more healthy option, includimg a cauliflower crusted, gluten free pizza. They are already serving cold-pressed healthy juices and JoAnna Erickson is currently planning on salads and other vegan menu options.
But for pizza lovers, the mainstays aren’t going anywhere.
Signature pies include the Backyard BBQ, the meat lover, a taco pizza and chicken bianca, a white sauce pizza with grilled chicken, roasted garlic, red onion and spinach.
Visit their website or their Facebook page to learn more, including ordering options that also includes a Door Dash option for delivery.
“For now, our focus is on being safe and social distancing, but we are bursting with tons of fun ideas for the future,” JoAnna Erickson said.
For more information, call 941-241-9382.