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03/21/2007
Specialty pizza is its top priorityCrusted Creations more than cheese and sausageSpecial to the Record-Eagle About Crusted Creations
Crusted Creations an eatery, located at 532 W. 14th Street, specializes in pizzas, oven baked subs, bbq ribs and other items for eat-in or takeout. Address: 532 W. 14th St., Traverse City Phone: 947-2626 Online: crustedcreations.com Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday Employees: 6 Years in business: 27 "In Business" is a weekly profile of small businesses throughout northwest Michigan Torch Tip Iron Works in Central Lake TRAVERSE CITY — Pizza has been a big part of Craig Greening's life for almost three-and-a-half decades. The Traverse City resident has owned and operated Crusted Creations, one of the town's most popular independent pizza places, for 27 years. Before opening his first store in 1980, Greening ran seven pizza stores for Little Caesars for seven years. So what is it about pizza-making that appeals to the Traverse City resident? "It's the contact with our customers,” he said. "I love working with them. It's kind of like 'Cheers;' we have our own little world with our regular customers. That's what it's all about, that relationship.” It's also about providing tasty food at a reasonable price. In 2006, Crusted Creations was voted the best pizza in Grand Traverse County by readers of the Northern Express. In addition to classic pies with pepperoni, ham, mushrooms and other usual toppings, the Crusted Creations menu features some seldom-seen taste treats. One popular specialty pizza is the BBQ Chicken pizza featuring Sweet Baby Ray's barbecued chicken, bacon and red onions. They also offer the Gyro Pizza, topped with tzatziki sauce, gyro meat or chicken, red onions, tomatoes and feta cheese. Crusted Creations even has developed an all-kosher pizza. "We had a neighbor who was a rabbi and he would always order a veggie kosher pizza,” Greening said. "We checked with our supplier and made sure all the ingredients were kosher and now we have it on the menu.” Six different types of oven-baked subs, gyros, chicken wings, salads and even saucy barbecued ribs highlight the Crusted Creations menu. Raised in Howell, a young Greening and his family used to vacation in northern Michigan. He opened his first Crusted Creations on Munson Avenue, across from Northwestern Michigan College. It was so successful that he branched out with Crusted Creations in Grand Rapids and Gaylord, plus another store in Traverse City. But the day-to-day issues of operating a chain — even a small one — took him away from the pleasure of dealing with his customers. By 2002, he was back operating the busy 14th Street store with his son, Chris, who attended culinary school and has spiffed up the menu with specialty pizzas such as chicken alfredo and chicken pesto. "I can't fathom retiring,” said Greening. "I'll be working and greeting our customers for at least another 20 years.” [an error occurred while processing this directive] |
