HomeMade Pizza Co. Brings Patrons Back to Dinner Table

Just another pizza place on Washington? Not quite. I was quickly confronted with the common misconception of most Hoboken residents unfamiliar with HomeMade Pizza. I told store manager Shantel Nelson I would be stopping in for "a slice and the story," from the new kid on the block when I was thrown a third act twist.

We don't sell by the slice," Nelson said. "Our concept is to bring people back to the dinner table, which we do with freshly prepared meals, ready for final cook time at home. It's been a challenge for people stopping in looking to carry out a slice, but even those looking for an immediate slice take a menu to-go which has resulted in future orders."

I would have been quick to realize this once I entered the Washington Street storefront to find zero dining tables and no pies on display under heat lamps. The sleek and clean look features only a few pre-made, (but not baked) pies for customers desiring a visual, the delivery bike used to dispatch deliveries to customers around the mile square city, a bench and the grill from the grand opening event.

Wait, no oven?

"We have one oven in the back we use for sampling sometimes to give customers a taste of the pizza," Nelson said.

Those who made it to the VIP grand opening event at the beginning of May are already well versed with the HomeMade Pizza concept—and received a free medium pie from founders Eric Fosse and Matt Weinstein, who were standing next to a display of fresh produce and a grill on Washington Street. For those who missed free pizza at the grand opening, HomeMade offers a customer loyalty card, which entitles customers to a free pizza or salad with any toppings after the purchase of 10.

Beyond the initial lure of something free, though, HomeMade offers even more to the healthy and environmentally conscious diner. "I come in two hours before opening each day to freshly chop garlic, basil and herbs," Nelson said. "Each order is created at the time the order is placed and we use all fresh, natural ingredients. I also hear positive feedback about our offering the option for wheat crust."

The company goes above and beyond to source local meats, cheeses and produce, too.

“I founded HomeMade Pizza based on the belief that there had to be a better way to have hot, fresh, all natural, made-from-scratch pizza at home,” said Eric Fosse, founder of HomeMade Pizza. “At HomeMade, we pride ourselves on our signature take-and-bake pizza where customers can cook dinner from the comfort of their home.”

Nelson, a vegetarian, has been with the company for a year and a half and suggests newcomers try her favorite pizza, the Miesian, which consists of mozzarella, basil, Roma tomatoes and garlic.

The menu offers all the pizza your heart could desire (and was chosen as one of Oprah’s top pizzas across the nation) including a seasonal special pizza, plus salads and desserts including HomeMade’s own brand of ice cream. 

HomeMade Pizza Co. is located at 213 Washington Street in Hoboken and is open daily from 2 pm to 9 p.m. There is no delivery minimum, the bike comes to your door for a $3 charge.