Building the Valley: Gilpin resident plans to open pizza shop in Leechburg

Gilpin resident Steven Senjan noticed a lack of pizza shops in the Leechburg area and wanted to change that.

Senjan and his wife, Jamie, decided it was the perfect time to pursue their lifelong dream of opening a pizza shop after saving money for it. They found an ideal location on the corner of the intersection of Market Street and Third Street.

Leechburg Pizza Co. plans to open by the end of January. Senjan is waiting for permits to be approved to proceed with renovations.

The shop will have a 1970s/’80s old-time pizza shop feel, featuring a small arcade including a pinball machine and a claw machine.

Senjan said he wanted to bring a traditional pizza shop to Leechburg for those looking for neighborhood pizza options. Fox’s Pizza Den is the closest pizza place for Leechburg residents on Market Street.

“This is the prime location of Leechburg with all the traffic coming across the bridge and from in town,” he said.

Leechburg Pizza Co. will be Senjan’s second business in the area. He owns Senjan Machine Inc. on Basin Street.

The Senjans have been practicing how to make their own homemade pizza dough and sauce. Once the pizza shop opens, it will create a new challenge for the couple when they are able to use their restaurant equipment.

“Making it at home is a lot different than making it on commercial machines,” Senjan said.

The menu will feature three or four different pizzas and subs. Toppings will be standard and simple. Senjan said he plans to expand the menu as the business gets settled.

Tentative plans are for the shop to be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. There will be indoor seating. Delivery and takeout will be available.

“We are going to open during lunch hours because it is so hard to find something quick to get,” he said.

The town’s response to Senjan’s new business has been positive.

“Everyone so far is excited,” Senjan said. “They said, ‘We need a pizza shop in town.’ ”