A Tiffin pizza tradition, Jac & Do's Pizza, marks its 40th anniversary this year.
Richard Valentine was living in Findlay, working at the original Jac & Do's (for Jack and Doris) Pizza there but looking to move back closer to home. When the business was up for sale, Richard decided to relocate to 283 S. Washington St., Tiffin.
The business has thrived - involving children and grandchildren - holding its own as pizza chains have moved in.
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PHOTO BY CATHY WILLOUGHBY
Owner Richard Valentine adds sliced cheese to a pizza recently at Jac and Do’s, 283 S. Washington St.
Most Jac & Do's business is deliveries now, said Valentine's wife, Jan. Many customers use the pick-up window off the alley.
"Forty years ago, there was no McDonald's, Burger King in town," Richard said. "After the football games, this place would be clear full."
During that time, Napoli's and Reino's became established in Tiffin.
"People who grew up here or go to college and come back home, they know that Tiffin has good pizza places, because we still have the Mom and Pop's," Jan said.
When they started out, what is now the dining room included the pizza oven. There was a game room in back that included foosball and pinball.
Jac & Do's specialty pizza includes mashed potatoes. But Richard said the staples - pepperoni and sausage - remain the most popular.
"They are still our main sellers," he said. "That's our whole business, pizza and subs, although we do have calzones and foldovers."
"We've been doing the jumbo sheet pizza for 10 or 12 years now," Jan said. "And we sell a lot of 18-inch pizzas."
They also operate four food trailers at area fairs, festivals and flea markets.
Each of their six children have worked at the business.
"We are working on grandchildren now," she said. "One daughter, Adrienne, still works here." Two of their sons, Berlin and Tim, have their own Jac & Do's -Tim in Urbana and Berlin and Tim in Russell's Point.
And they are catering to their third and fourth generations of customers.
"I've had kids come in and say, 'My mom used to come in when she was in school,'" Jan said. "I used to know everybody who came in because I would see them face to face. Now I might know their name and address, but not what they look like. Always if the pizza is delivered and I recognize their voice, I can say, 'Don't you want mushroom on that.' And there is another guy who likes very, very light sauce."
Jan believes their secret to the best tasting pizza is their sauce.
"We add our special spices to it," she said. "The dough we make every day. We use cheese slices, not shredded so you know it's 100 percent cheese. Our sausage, we cook and season it ourselves, we are not so much for the pre-made stuff. Years ago we had to slice the pepperoni."
To celebrate their 40th anniversary, for several weeks Jac and Do's will be offering their 12-, 14-, 16- and 18-inch pizzas at half price 4-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
"This gives new customers the opportunity to try us, and old faithful customers a way to say thanks with discount prices," Jan said. "We sure appreciate their support over the years."
Jac & Do's hours are 4 - 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4 p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday. For a delivery, call (419) 447-0196.
