Custom Pizza Sells Its Slice

The State:

For close to 20 years, Hugh Smith’s Custom Pizza Co. has remained among a handful of local pizza eateries, serving nearly 4 million slices to kids.

Now Smith, 45, has decided to sell his Irmo pizza business to a franchisee of the Michigan-based chain Little Caesars, which will replace his parlor at 6903 St. Andrews Road next month.

‘I’m not going out of business,’ Smith said. ‘And it’s a win-win for everybody.’

Smith said Little Caesars first approached him about buying and taking over his pizza shop’s management 6 months ago.

‘I jumped on it,’ said Smith, who added he was ready to get out of the business. With Custom Pizza closing Dec. 23, he will have his first Christmas Eve at home since the Reagan administration.

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