Bill Wheeler wants all of Oxford to know that Jet’s Pizza is back and better than ever.
‘One of our slogans is, ‘Life is short. Eat better pizza.? We feel we’ve got the better pizza,? said Wheeler, of Sterling Heights, who purchased the Oxford location (204 S. Washington St.) with a group of partners back in mid-December.
To celebrate, the Oxford store is holding a Grand Reopening on Saturday, March 1.
‘We’re having a big party,? Wheeler said.
Jet Man, the pizza franchise’s official costumed mascot, will fly to the store (okay, not literally) and hand out press-on tattoos, pencils, balloons and water bottles.
‘It’s going to be a pretty big event,? Wheeler said.
All day long during the Grand Reopening, customers will receive a free, small 10-piece Jet’s Bread with any purchase.
‘You buy a pop for $1.25, you get a free small bread,? Wheeler said.
Jet’s Bread is fresh baked and topped with mozzarella, butter, garlic and Romano cheese. It comes with Jet’s famous pizza sauce for dipping.
The Grand Reopening is part of Wheeler’s overall strategy to get people thinking about the Oxford store.
‘We’re just trying to get our name out there,? he said. ‘There were people in the community who didn’t know there was an Oxford Jet’s Pizza or that we delivered.?
Community involvement is the cornerstone of Wheeler’s business philosophy and the foundation upon which his store will be built.
‘It’s the people of this community who pay my paycheck,? he said. ‘It’s only natural to give back to the people who support you.?
On Friday night (Feb. 15) for example, the Oxford Jet’s Pizza donated pizzas and bread to the Oxford Athletic Boosters, so the group could sell it at the concession stand during the last basketball game of the season.
‘I will be donating to the Boosters a lot,? Wheeler said.
The Oxford Jet’s Pizza is also a big sponsor of the Oxford Wildcats travel baseball team. Pizzas were donated for a recent euchre tournament the team held as a fund-raiser.
But the community project that excites Wheeler the most is the drive to build a $390,000 SplashPad at Seymour Lake Township Park.
‘I’m one of the biggest contributors to that,? he said.
A SplashPad is an aquatic recreation system that provides for endless combinations of interactive play with a fully automated support system. The fun comes from the endless enjoyment of water as it is sprayed, gushed, dumped and poured from the play products.
To help raise funds for the project, a charity Texas Hold’em tournament will be held Friday, Feb. 29 at the Boulder Pointe Conference Center.
Not only is Wheeler playing in the tournament, but he’s got a special offer for everyone else who participates.
‘Everyone that participates in the poker tournament for the SplashPad will get a free large pizza from me,? he said.
No matter what pizza you order at Jet’s, you won’t be disappointed with the flavor, quality or service.
Jet’s is famous for its Deep Dish square pizza.
‘The thing that sets us a part is we’ve perfected the Deep Dish,? Wheeler said. ‘Our Deep Dish pizza is hands down one of the best I’ve ever eaten. Most Jet’s stores sell Deep Dish 2-to-1 over our hand-tossed round.?
One of Jet’s most popular sellers is it’s 8-corner Deep Dish pizza, which features eight square corner slices.
‘It was actually a surprise to us how well it’s taken off,? Wheeler said.
All of Jet’s Pizzas are available in small (6 pieces), medium (8 pieces), large (10 pieces) and X-large (15 pieces). Build your own pizza with any combination of 17 toppings and your choice of seven flavored-crusts.
Jet’s newest pizza, the ‘Bold Fold,? a New York-style large pizza that’s cut into six slices instead of the usual 10.
‘It just came out two weeks ago,? Wheeler said. ‘It’s a thinner, hand-tossed round pizza with spicier pepperoni and large slices people can fold to eat.?
For those seeking a different kind of pizza, try any one of Jet’s four deluxe speciality pizzas (BBQ chicken, BLT, Hawaiian and Chicken Parmesan) or four premium speciality pizzas (Super Special, All Meaty, Veggie and Grilled Chicken).
Can’t decide on toppings? Why not try most of them with the Jet 10, which features mozzarella, pepperoni, ham, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, hamburger, Italian sausage, bacon and black olives.
Don’t want pizza?
Don’t worry, Jet’s also has salads, chicken wings, boneless wings, nine different mouth-watering subs and cinnamon stix.
Love calzones?
Try a Jet’s Boat ? freshly baked pizza dough stuffed with mozzarella, sauce or your favorite toppings.
Want a different kind of calzone? Try a Deli Boat, freshly baked pizza dough stuffed with your favorite sub toppings.
‘I love Deli Boats,? Wheeler said. ‘Those are probably my favorite thing on the menu.?
Let Jet’s Pizza cater your next party with quality food at a great value. ‘That’s what we specialize in,? Wheeler said.
From 30-piece party trays to 3-6-foot subs, Jet’s can feed large groups of hungry people with ease. Party salads are also available in two sizes ? full (feeds 30) and half (feeds 15).
‘I’ll even do party size breads for big catering jobs,? Wheeler noted.
Whatever you want from Jet’s Pizza, be assured it can be delivered right to your door, usually in 35-40 minutes depending on the weather and road conditions.
‘Our delivery area is pretty extensive,? Wheeler said. ‘You want pizza from us, we’ll pretty much go to you.?
Besides delivering anywhere in Oxford, Jet’s will go to homes and businesses in Addison, Brandon and Orion. The Oxford location will even deliver in Lapeer County, a few miles past Davison Lake Road.
‘We’ve hired at least 10 new people and half of them are drivers,? Wheeler said.
There is a $2.50 charge for delivery, but Wheeler said, ‘That’s actually one of the lowest compared to our competitors who are about $3.?
‘We try to keep the delivery charge under a gallon of gas,? he noted.
If a quick lunch is what you need, try any one of Jet’s brand new eight great lunch combos featuring pairings such as pizza and pop, deli boat and pop or sub and pop.
‘It’s just something to make life a little easier and more convenient for our on-the-go customers,? Wheeler said. ‘You walk in, you can get a pizza in 10 minutes. You call up, you can pick it up in 15 minutes. That’s our goal.?
Jet’s Pizza is located in the Oxford Marketplace Plaza, a ? mile north of Drahner Road.
Store hours are Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday noon to 10 p.m.
To order call (248) 969-5387. For a complete menu and history of Jet’s visit www.jetspizza.com.
For those not familiar with Jet’s Pizza, the franchise started in Warren and is now ‘the third fastest growing franchises in the nation right now,? according to Wheeler.
In two years, Wheeler and his partners are planning to open a Jet’s Pizza in nearby Lakeville.
‘We already have the rights,? he said. ‘We’re just waiting for someone to build a suitable plaza.?