Hello Jackson: Rock'n Dough Pizza & Brew Co.
This post was originally published on Hello Jackson on October 30, 2014.
I think most people would agree that there’s not much better than a good slice of pizza, especially after a long day at work or during an action-packed football game. You can get mediocre pizza from tons of places, but if you want some delicious, handcrafted, brick oven pizza, I’ve got just the place for you: Rock’n Dough Pizza + Brew Co.
In addition to the aforementioned amazing pizza, Rock’n Dough offers grinders, salads, calzones, and weekly lunch specials. They even now offer brunch on Sundays! They are very diligent about reducing waste, which you can see in the upcycled decor they’ve incorporated into the restaurant design. If you’re not in the mood for pizza, the Firebird Sandwich is really popular, and you also can enjoy a craft beer, brewed right there in the microbrewery, with your meal! When I went in to take pictures, I tried a slice that was on special, and it was fantastic. The one slice was plenty of food for my lunch, and I couldn’t even make it home with it. I ate it right in my car (while stopped at red lights, of course).
Rock’n Dough owner, Jeremy Denno, started his business as a food truck based in Memphis, which then became a brick and mortar restaurant in early 2013. After seeing the success of the business, Jeremy and his wife, Amanda, wanted to get involved with the revitalization of downtown Jackson, so they opened a location in the new Jackson Walk Plaza. In addition to the pizza, Jeremy wanted to add a microbrewery to the new location, so he partnered with Ben Pugh to establish that. Jeremy’s passion for creating East Coast-inspired pizza coupled with Ben’s passion for crafting delicious beer makes for a dynamite duo! I mean, what goes better together than pizza and beer? Nothing, that’s what. Jeremy created Rock’n Dough from the ground up and has involved his own family along the way. His mother works at the Memphis location, while his brother works in Jackson, and he has used his father’s woodworking expertise to create the beautiful tables and bars from reclaimed wood. His staff also says that they feel like one big, happy family at Rock’n Dough, so it truly is a family business!
Many things make Rock’n Dough unique in the Jackson community, and one thing in particular that I love is that they are using an aeroponic growing system called Tower Garden for a few ingredients. Mike Anton used the gardens over the summer to grow three varieties of basil, four types of tomatoes, cilantro, and parsley. That, coupled with their commitment to buy from local farmers when possible, definitely affirms Mike’s claim that they “sell a fresh, healthy, local slice of Jackson.” Pun intended, I’m sure.
Rock’n Dough offers a lot more than just a good meal. Manager Cody Stooksberry started a home brewers club and teaches classes to locals at his home. If you’re interested in home brewing, he’s a great resource to get started! You can also come to Rock’n Dough for excellent live music and Trivia Night. There is so much more that I could tell you about Rock’n Dough, but I think I’ll just leave you with one last thought from employee Mike Anton, “We want Jackson to grow; we want people to eat delicious food; we want people to enjoy live music, games, and craft beer. And we work to achieve that every day!”
Rock’n Dough Pizza & Brew Co. is located at 16 Jackson Walk Plaza. Hours are Monday through Thursday 11:00 A.M to 9:00 P.M., Friday and Saturday 11 A.M. to 10 P.M., and Sunday 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M.. Visit their website, and check their Facebook page and Instagram for specials and announcements.
Kristi Woody is a photographer and storyteller for our Hello Jackson features about locally owned retail stores and restaurants. She also works as the university photographer for Union University and owns her own wedding photography business, Woody & Pearl Photography. In her free time, Kristi enjoys spending time with her husband and rambunctious beagle, Rhett and Chipper respectively. If you can't find Kristi in Jackson, you'll find her in her second favorite place: Disney World!
