JJ’s Pizza, located at 1952 Ford Avenue, in Wyandotte, was once just the neighborhood’s grab-and-go pizza joint known for a very good slice of pizza that was as delicious as it was easy to order and pick up. While that is still very much the case, current owner Robert Sawyer, who took over the business in November 2022, is adding to the menu and has also created a very popular catering and party side to the business.

Joe Vitale, at just 18 years old, founded JJ’s Pizza in 1974 and served the neighborhood well for decades.

“Joe was a good friend of mine for a long time, and over the last few years we had talked about me buying the business and taking it over,” said Sawyer, who at the time owned Grotto Pizzeria and Tavern in Trenton. “We had been friends for over 30 years but at that time I wasn’t ready to take over JJ’s, but we kept talking about it happening one day.”

That day came sadly sooner than later.

“We had started the process when he unexpectedly passed away,” Sawyer said. “He would take a picture of a pie and send it to me and say, ‘Look how nice that one came out.’ And I would do the same. We called it our pizza porn. It’s one of the things I miss about not having him around.”

The family went on with the sale to Sawyer, who took over JJ’s Pizza in November 2022.

“I have been running it now for over two years, and I sold Grotto this past January after owning it for five years,” Sawyer said. “And we are proud to still be here and celebrating 50 years in Wyandotte.”

Sawyer was born and raised in Trenton, lived for many years on Grosse Ile but has found his true home in Wyandotte.

“I moved to downtown Wyandotte two years ago and I just love it here,” he said. “Wyandotte is the greatest place on earth.”

JJ’s Pizza is a Wyandotte tradition, with generations of locals growing up on the sweet sauce and flavorful and fresh dough and toppings. The pizza recipe hasn’t changed since 1974 and Sawyer wasn’t about to mess with the secret sauce.

“Same sauce, same recipe for 50 years,” Sawyer said. “I can’t take credit for the great taste of the pizza. We changed some things on the menu but we didn’t mess with the pizza sauce.”

JJ’s Pizza’s new menu includes subs (made with fresh pizza dough), lasagna, pasta and “higher end” mac and cheese bowls.

“We do a lot more than just pizza now,” Sawyer said. “We do a lot of catering now and provide food for special events – not only party pizzas, but Italian food as well.”

JJ’s Pizza is considered the ideal neighborhood pizza parlor and Sawyer believes in helping out his neighbors, especially ones going through challenging times. He has a program called “Everybody Eats” and helps feed struggling neighbors in his community. If there is anyone in need, please reach out to Sawyer to find out more about this program.

For more on JJ’s Pizza, call (734) 284-2270 or email rsrg.jjspizza@gmail.com.