Main Street Pizza turns 40

For 40 years, Main Street Pizza has been serving slices in Banks and Tillamook. Along the way, the institution has employed thousands and supported local youth sports teams and other community groups.

Started by a pair of gym buddies in 1986, Main Street Pizza has found itself in several cities over the decades, but today operates in just two — Banks, the original location, and Tillamook, the second location that opened just months after the founders set up shop in Banks.

Now, the family-owned company is looking to the future with breakfast options recently added to the menu, a planned expansion and remodel in Banks, and new delivery options on the horizon. But the past will still be present.

"I want to keep that feeling of the 1980s pizza parlor you walk into," said Main Street Pizza General Manager and co-owner Jessie Skovron. Skovron is the daughter of Randy Robinson, who co-founded Main Street Pizza with Scott Saxton.

Robinson, who died in 2019, was at the gym when he developed the idea with Saxton, who also worked out there.

At its peak, Main Street Pizza operated five locations, including stores in Beaverton, West Linn and Scappoose.

"We've employed thousands of people over the years," Skovron said.

From cleaning toilets to running the show

Skovron grew up in the business.

"My dad had me clean toilets starting at the age of like six or seven," she said. "When I was 14, I was able to work at the counter."

She worked through high school at Main Street Pizza, went on to college and earned a business degree, then worked at the Old Spaghetti Factory before moving on to a job as a graphic designer and marketer for Made in Oregon. After that came a stretch as a stay-at-home mom.

Then, in October 2019, came a phone call from her mom, Judy Robinson, also a co-owner of Main Street Pizza. Her father had become ill, and Skovron stepped in to help run the business. In November 2019, Robinson died, and Skovron took over managing both locations.

"I run all of the day-to-day business for both stores that we have," she said.

Scott Saxton is retired but remains a co-owner. Dennis Nimister is also a co-owner.

"They didn't really know what to do after dad passed," Skovron said.

A pandemic crash course

Six weeks after Robinson's death, news of a novel virus emerged from China's Hubei province. On St. Patrick's Day, Main Street Pizza closed its doors and switched to a take-out model as Oregon, the nation and the world reckoned with a global pandemic.

"I was so excited to do green beer, and we didn't get to do that," Skovron said.

"So not only did I have to take over this business, I had to jump through these crazy hoops, and it was a lot doing that and having three young kids," she said. "I'll never forget that day."

"We survived COVID," she said. "I come from a corporate atmosphere, so I know how to pinch pennies and get down to business," she said.

"Now, here we are. We have the best team we've ever had," she added.

Future plans

"We have actually run out of space here," Skovron said. Main Street Pizza has potential plans for additional pop-out dining, a remodel of its Banks location, and other ideas.

Main Street Pizza has added DoorDash and Uber Eats in Banks and Tillamook, which Skovron described as a "huge success."

By the time the new developments in Banks come online over the coming decade, Skovron said Main Street Pizza plans to have evolved beyond just third-party delivery services.

"We will have our own delivery service to bring down the price for customers," she said.

And not just Banks: Skovron said "the outskirts" are a possibility — even, perhaps, Timber.

The plan also calls for more arcade games for kids, plus a larger and more functional kitchen and dining area.

Changes inside the parlor

Since Skovron took over, other changes have already happened: a bigger beer selection, a more elaborate salad bar, a breakfast menu, gluten-free pizza crust and more.

"I've doubled our sales since I've been here," she said.

The biggest change, Skovron said, is that staff at Main Street Pizza are now paid more.

"You get better customer service," she said, with longer-term employees. "Our turnover rate was under 10% for this last year, which is really, really good for restaurants."

Main Street Pizza has been around long enough now that Skovron says she has employed the children of people who also used to work there.

Giving — and getting — back

Asked about Main Street Pizza's support of community sports teams and other groups, Skovron explained her philosophy.

"When you give to the community, they're always gonna give back to you," she said.

"Every year I donate a ton of pizza to the elementary school," she said. She thinks that community support translates to the community supporting Main Street Pizza. She rattled off a list including every level of football, basketball and baseball, as well as robotics.

"What you give, you get back," she said.

Find Main Street Pizza online at mainstreetpizzaco.com and in Banks at 12350 Northwest Main Street.

This story has been updated with additional information.