Flying Dog Wood Fired Pizza & Vinyl
Serving Up Pizza, Music, and Movies in Downtown Willits
story & photos by Charlie Cathcart
Loyal customers formerly knew this location as Main Street Music & Video, a longtime favorite of folks looking to grab a movie rental or a vinyl album. The pandemic wreaked havoc on many businesses of all types and sizes in 2020, and Main Street was no different. It also made clear a truth that some had already accepted—video stores were going out of style.
That Main Street Music & Video was still in existence in 2020 showed that it was standing the test of time. But owner Pete Swanton knew that he would have to try something new to continue to be successful. Opening a new business is never easy, but luckily he already had a successful business that just needed a breath of fresh air.
Pete was quite familiar with pizza, having grown up in New Jersey, so when he envisioned Flying Dog Wood Fired Pizza & Vinyl, he saw it as the perfect opportunity to pay homage to his roots. His previous foray into food service, a dumpling shop called Nite Bite, turned out to be a little ambitious for the community. Pizza provided a perfect opportunity to feed customers with something classic and family friendly, with a bit of flair.
A new wood-fired oven was installed, as well as an updated kitchen with equipment from a previous venture into food service. New staff were brought in, and the evolution into Flying Dog Pizza was complete in late October of 2020. What was the worst that could go wrong in the midst of a global pandemic?
The menu has evolved in much the same way as the store did. It started out rather basic, but now offers lots of variety. Specials showcase new items every week, with things you may not think of when you first think of pizza. (Pulled pork in a wood-fired oven is hard to beat.) The menu also offers a new dessert pizza every week, with specialties ranging from blueberry sauce to pears to chai custard.
Ashleigh, the head chef and kitchen manager, says, “We care about our ingredients here. I think that shows in our pizzas. We are always trying to do something new and fun for our weekly specials and dessert pizzas.” One of her favorite specials featured a pear and bacon pizza with sliced red onions and a parmesan white sauce, a mozzarella/provolone cheese blend, and hot honey on the crust, all topped with arugula. She also highly recommends the cinnamon roll dessert pizza, reminding folks to ”Eat it hot!”
Pete has always had a dedication to responsible business practices, and this proved no different for Flying Dog. The kitchen produces very little garbage and composts everything else. There is a dedication to quality ingredients, including local produce and nitrite-free meat. And perhaps most importantly, there is a commitment toward making a positive impact in the community.
Adaptability has been crucial for businesses during the pandemic, and Flying Dog is no exception. One innovation that’s proved especially popular with the pizza-loving community is the monthly Mimosa Sunday brunch. Held on the first Sunday of every month from 10am to 2pm, it offers an inspired menu of fun breakfast pizzas to enjoy with the aforementioned mimosas. Throw in a few of your favorite people and it’s the ideal way to round out your weekend.
It’s never been easy to start a new business, and that is especially true in today’s pandemic reality. It will take our local communities to ensure that small businesses like Flying Dog Wood Fired Pizza & Vinyl survive. The good news? In this case, doing your part is no hardship, what with amazing wood-fired pizzas and an abundance of records and movies to explore. So come on by for pizza, and grab some vinyl treasures before you head home.
Flying Dog Wood Fired Pizza & Vinyl
65 S Main St, Willits, CA 95490
(707) 459-4747
Facebook: @mainstreetmusicandvideowillits
Instagram: @flyingdogwoodfiredpizzavinyl
Hours:
Wednesday, Thursday: 4 - 8:30pm | Friday, Saturday: 12 - 8:30pm
Sunday: 12 - 7pm | Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Charlie Cathcart is originally from New Jersey. He has lived in Willits for about a year with his uncle, Pete Swanton, where he can get his fill of delicious pizza.
