Building the Valley: Opening pizzeria in Leechburg a dream come true for Gilpin couple

Steve and Jamie Senjan of Gilpin always wanted to open a pizza shop.

After five years of research, testing recipes and planning, their dream is a reality.

The couple, married for 16 years, recently opened Leechburg Pizza Co. in Leechburg. The independent, family-owned eatery at 101 Market St. serves homemade pizza and hot hoagies for lunch and dinner.

Since opening July 25, the couple said business has exceeded expectations. They still are looking for a few more employees to add to the current staff of 16.

Tammy Gamble of Leechburg works in the kitchen alongside her daughter, Kristin.

“I love working here. It’s fast-paced,” Tammy Gamble said. “The day goes by fast, and it smells good.”

Staffing has been a bit of a challenge, said Steve Senjan, 41. “We’re looking for an evening manager now. We’ve been here every night since we opened, so we (hope we) can get a night off now and then,” he said.

The couple said they are delighted by the overwhelming support from the community.

“There was no way we could have planned for the amount of people we served,” said Jamie Senjan, 42. “We sell close to 100 Italian hoagies a day.”

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

The newly opened Leechburg Pizza Co. can seat about 40 people.

Business was so brisk during opening week, the couple had to close Saturday after selling out of product Friday. “We had more than 150 tickets that night,” Jamie Senjan said.

“People just want a homemade pizza place,” her husband said. “Everybody kinda gets tired of the chain-store pizza.”

The couple spent years making and tweaking their homemade sauce and dough in their kitchen at home and had friends taste test and provide feedback.

They let the dough ferment for two days before being used for pizzas.

“We can control the quality, and we know what goes into the dough. The yeast has to work, and it tastes better. It rises better after two days,” Steve Senjan said.

With no Italian heritage between them, the Senjans’ restaurant is a dream come true for the couple who still hold down day jobs.

Jamie works locally as a dental assistant, and Steve owns Senjan Machine Inc. in Leechburg.

“A lot of evenings and a lot of juggling,” Steve Senjan said of their time management. “We’re getting about four hours of sleep nightly.”

The pies are baked on stone in an industrial oven.

“Everybody seems to be happy with the pizzas. Ninety percent of the feedback has been good. We’ve had issues with deliveries or wait times, but, overall, people seem to be really happy with the recipes,” Steve Senjan said.

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

A homemade pepperoni pizza awaits at the newly opened Leechburg Pizza Co. in Leechburg.

Dine-in, takeout and delivery are available. The dining room seats about 40.

The pepperoni slices they use are small and crisp and curl up, burning just a tad on the edges. “A lot of people say that’s their favorite kind of pepperoni,” Steve Senjan said.

Pizza prices range from $3.25 a slice to $16 for a large, whole pie.

A variety of additional toppings — such as anchovies, pepper rings and ham — are available and range from $.50 to $2.75 per topping.

Delivery areas served include Gilpin, Allegheny Township, West Leechburg, Bethel Township (Dime Road area), Parks Township (Airport Road area) and Leechburg. A $3.25 charge is applied to every delivery order.

Gluten-free pizzas are offered, although those crusts are pre-made.

Specialty pizzas include seafood, BBQ chicken, Italian hoagie, Buffalo chicken and white. Pizza prices range from $11.75 to $23 for specialty pizzas.

The Senjans hope to add a few more specialty hoagies. The best-selling hoagie right now is the oversized hot Italian hoagie, made with bread from Breadworks and served with capicola, Genoa salami, ham and provolone cheese.

”We don’t skimp here,” Jamie Senjan said of the food.

Leechburg Pizza Co. is open from 11 a.m to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.