Maddy's Pizza keeps spinning the dough

by Brenda Espinoza
     
     MEXICO - Now second generation, Maddy's Pizza, located at 310 Main St., celebrates their 39th year in business with owners Norma and Gregory Arsenault. Maddy, Norma's mother, opened the restaurant, which is named after her, in 1970.
     "My whole family has worked here. Seven children and at off stages in our lives, we have all worked here," said Norma. "Now my two boys work here, Cory and Casey."
     Although business has been slowing for the past two years, and the mill orders have been slow, Maddy's Pizza keeps on spinning the dough and selling a good amount of pizza.
     "You have to put in a lot of hours to make things work," said Norma, adding "The catering has helped us."
     "When the mill closed this last time, more people stayed in town and came in for pizza. It's cheaper to get a pizza and a movie than going out to eat," said Norma.
     Norma attributes a lot of her local success to the popularity of her husband, Greg, and his family. "It's like a hometown business; people come in and have coffee and talk. "
     Maddy's specialty is pizza; however, they also serve Italians, grinders, steak subs, and their very popular ham hoagies.
     "People come in from everywhere to buy sandwiches. One lady took an Italian sandwich all the way back home to Ireland," Norma said, smiling.
     Did someone say there is no Mexican food in Mexico? Of course there is! Maddy's Pizza offers a variety of Mexican food such as Mexican pizza, taco salads, burritos and chili.
     "We try to have specials every weekend, family size meals, Italians and pizza discounts. Greg makes homemade meals like chicken and gravy, and chicken and beef stews," said Norma.
     Throughout these hard times, Maddy's Pizza continues to work proactively in the community by offering their catering service of hot and cold foods.
     They work with custom orders for many occasions, from weddings, anniversaries, funeral receptions to business meetings.
     "This is a good time of year for us," said Norma. When it is hot, people don't like to cook."