When Chris Owens, owner of Pizzetta in Mystic, was 6 years old, he liked four things: sailboats, lighthouses, pizza, and fire trucks. Now 41, he said he’s a grown-up version of that 6-year-old, who has restored a sailboat, currently helps to restore lighthouses, owns a pizza restaurant, and now operates a pizza-making fire truck.
“I think that’s an accomplishment,” he said, arms folded, while he smiled at his transformed fire truck.
The idea of purchasing the fire truck, he explained, started when he saw the fire truck’s For Sale sign at the Noank Volunteer Fire Company. He remembered a story about someone in New Haven cooking on a flat-bed truck at a picnic. For about 40 minutes, he said, he walked around the fire truck daydreaming, finally picturing the oven placed on the top of the truck where the hose bed was located.
Owens bought the fire truck in July and decided to make it his winter project. But after mentioning his purchase and his pizza-producing plans, he knew he needed to start the project as soon as he could, based on the overwhelmingly positive response he received.
As he began to work 14-hour days, mainly deconstructing the truck, removing the truck’s old lettering, and adding additional graphics that would represent the restaurant and grab the attention of children, he said it was friends and family who supported his endeavor and kept his life together.
With the renovations almost finished, he debuted the truck in October at the Harvest Festival at Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington.
“It was beyond belief,” he said, describing his response from the crowd during the event. “Some stared, some clapped, and the kids did everything I hoped for.”
He said during that event alone, he sold around 200 pizzas, using the oven to warm up pre-made pizzas.
“It appeals to all ages,” he said, referring to the fire truck.
To see the type of response the truck drew from the community and to test out his new mobile eatery, Owens has attended many recent area events, such as birthdays, parties, and fund-raisers.
“We want to see how the truck works at different events….try it out…and so far so good,” he added.
Though Owens hopes the use of the truck will help spread the name of the restaurant to the public, he seemed more concerned about finding an easier way to get the pizza from the oven on top of the fire truck down to his customers. He said he plans to possibly add a stainless steel slide or have a counter weight to lower the pizza but that ideas are still flowing.
“This is my secret weapon,” he said as he lowered the truck’s ladder. “I thought this up at 4 in the morning.”
As the ladder lowered, it became a serving table, a device, he added, that could be used for people to eat or drink from.
“Of course!” he responded when asked if the truck actually held water. “I figured it wasn’t a fire truck without having water available to put out some sort of fire,” he said as he tested out the water pump from the top of the truck, catching the attention of walking residents on Water Street. “It holds up to 100 gallons…If you’re 6 years old and you see that at the top of the truck, you’re going to think it’s the best thing in the world.”
He explained that the fire truck could fit four staff in the front seat with seat belts and the refrigerator to hold kegs has just started working to keep drinks cool. Owens plans to use it to feature local breweries. Looking toward the future, Owens said he’s planning to take environmental initiatives with the truck, eventually running the truck on bio-diesel and adding solar panels over the top above the kitchen to help with power.
Owens admitted that there are times when he looks at the transformed fire truck, thinking he’s taken on much more than he could handle, but what calms his nerves is knowing how many lives the pizza fire truck will affect. He looks forward to helping fund-raisers, nonprofits and making a difference.
“I want to make people happy,” he said, “and do something good.”
By Kristal Spence
Special to the Times
Pizzetta is at 7 Water Street in Mystic and can be reached at 860-536-4443 or visit www.pizzettamystic.com.