Pizza Today - March 2020 - 14
Conversation
MICHELE ATKINS
M AT E R ' S P I Z Z A & PAS TA E M P O R I U M
GADSD EN, ALABAMA
Co-owners Shelby Cochran and Michele Atkins (left) opened the small Mater's Pizza & Pasta Emporium in 1978, expanding to a half of a city block today.
THE MATER'S CONCEPT WAS TO MAKE
A TRULY SOUTHERN PIZZA - generous,
hearty, tasty and filling. A working-class family
could have a nutritious meal without overspending. The name itself, Mater's, reflects a
Southerner's deep love of the tomato, basic to
our sauces. The concept worked and Mater's
has served the downtown area for 42 years.
WHEN MATER'S FIRST OPENED IN
OUR AREA, only two other pizza places were
available, and the selections were thin and
sparse. Mater's pizzas became known for their
thickness, not just of dough, but of all toppings
and cheese as well. Our 16-inch signature
pizza, the Better Boy, weighs about seven
pounds, enough for a family. Some of the
specialty pizzas suggest the names of tomato
varieties: Field Hand, Beef Steak, Roma
and Celebrity. Others are named for their
ingredients: Pesto, Aloha, Spaghetti, Tomatè
and Barbeque.
1 4 / P I Z Z AT O D AY. C O M / M A R C H 2 0 2 0
OUR LOCATION ORIGINALLY WAS A
RESTAURANT FLANKED BY A FURRIER, A
BARBER SHOP, A BEAUTY SHOP AND A
LOCKSMITH BUSINESS, all on one street.
Behind our business a small appliance repair
business and a lawn equipment business
operated with an associated office and storage
area. Our business grew as others retired
and we bought and annexed the property we
needed to better serve our customers who
waited in line at the front door to get in. We
added seating, an oyster bar, kitchen and
storage space, a game room with seating for
larger groups and an office.
LOCATED FIVE TO SIX HOURS FROM THE
GULF OF MEXICO, Maters has access to an
abundant supply of oysters and shrimp. Always
trying to give our customers tastes they enjoy,
we added a steamed and raw oyster and shrimp
menu. This added concept gives our customers
the opportunity to dine with us more often
without feeling like they are eating at the same
place.
WE ESTABLISHED OUR FIRST
FRANCHISE IN ALBERTVILLE, ALABAMA
IN 2013, which has done extremely well. The
franchise opened to a booming business with no
advertising dollars being spent because of the
established name. The franchise is owned by a
former employee that wanted to make Mater's
available in Marshall County, a neighboring
county. Franchising is good for us because we
still have control over the product, but we also
have someone with a vested interest running it
day to day. Mater's franchising process is simple
and affordable. We have recently sold another
franchise and will have the third Mater's in Fort
Payne, Alabama. We hope to have it open in
2020.
Photo by Malcolm Howard
http://www.PIZZATODAY.COM
Pizza Today - March 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pizza Today - March 2020
Pizza Today - March 2020
Commentary
Contributors
Expo Spotlight
Meet The Makers
Conversation
Man On The Street
Tony’s Trending Recipe
Knead To Know
Destinations
Customer Service Culture
Self-Ordering Kiosk
Meat Combo Pizzas
Trending Chili Peppers
Hot Topping: ‘Nduja
Understanding Cheese Prices
Text Marketing
Rewarding Staff
Increasing Frequency
Relationship Building
On The Road: Woodstock’s Pizza, San Diego, Ca
On The Road: Regents Pizzeria, La Jolla, Ca
Pizza Expo Preview
Preferred Supplier
Pizza Today Yellow Pages
The Marketplace
Reader’s Resource
Mike’s Monthly Tip
Pizza Today - March 2020 - CT1
Pizza Today - March 2020 - CT2
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Pizza Today - March 2020
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Cover2
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Commentary
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 4
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 5
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 6
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 7
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Contributors
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 9
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Expo Spotlight
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 11
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Meet The Makers
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 13
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Conversation
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 15
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Man On The Street
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 17
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Tony’s Trending Recipe
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 19
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Knead To Know
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 21
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 22
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 23
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Destinations
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 25
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Customer Service Culture
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 27
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 28
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 29
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Self-Ordering Kiosk
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 31
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 32
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 33
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Meat Combo Pizzas
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 35
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 36
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 37
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Trending Chili Peppers
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 39
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 40
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 41
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Hot Topping: ‘Nduja
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 43
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 44
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 45
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Understanding Cheese Prices
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 47
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 48
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 49
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Text Marketing
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 51
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 52
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 53
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Rewarding Staff
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 55
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 56
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 57
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Increasing Frequency
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 59
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 60
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 61
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Relationship Building
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 63
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 64
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 65
Pizza Today - March 2020 - On The Road: Woodstock’s Pizza, San Diego, Ca
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 67
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 68
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 69
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 70
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 71
Pizza Today - March 2020 - On The Road: Regents Pizzeria, La Jolla, Ca
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 73
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 74
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 75
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 76
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 77
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Pizza Expo Preview
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 79
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 80
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 81
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 82
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 83
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 84
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 85
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Preferred Supplier
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 87
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 88
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 89
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 90
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 91
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 92
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 93
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 94
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 95
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 96
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 97
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 98
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 99
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 100
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 101
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 102
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 103
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Pizza Today Yellow Pages
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 105
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 106
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 107
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 108
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 109
Pizza Today - March 2020 - The Marketplace
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 111
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 112
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 113
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 114
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 115
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 116
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 117
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 118
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 119
Pizza Today - March 2020 - 120
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Reader’s Resource
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Mike’s Monthly Tip
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Cover3
Pizza Today - March 2020 - Cover4
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