When Billy Bonham started his summer job at Kyle Pizza Co., formerly known as Pizza Classics, at the age of 18 in 2004, he never anticipated that he would one day own the establishment and celebrate 20 years in the business.
The original restaurant was located where Centerfield Sports Bar and Grill now stands. After that building was sold, the pizza shop moved to its current location at 118 S. Front St. Despite the prime spot, the lack of visibility led to financial struggles. Faced with tough choices, the previous owner offered Billy three options: secure investment from a third-party, close the store, or invest himself and become a co-owner.
Billy’s journey was swift. Hired as a delivery driver in 2004, promoted to manager by 2007, and becoming a co-owner in 2009, he fully acquired the restaurant in 2011 when his boss decided to leave due to a long commute from South Austin.
“I had just graduated college and started dating this girl,” Billy recalled. “Job offers for my music education degree were far away, and she was planning to take classes in Austin. So, I thought, ‘I guess I could take over ownership at the shop.’” That girl is now his wife, Mariah.
Mariah has played a crucial role in the success of Kyle Pizza Co. Besides managing bookkeeping and marketing, she also works as a delivery driver, helps in the kitchen, answers phones, and balances these tasks with a full-time job elsewhere.
Reflecting on the past two decades, Billy notes significant positive changes. One major shift was the name change to Kyle Pizza Co. “The new name makes it clear that we are the local mom-and-pop pizza shop,” he said.
Adjustments to their business model were necessary for sustainability. They discontinued an unlimited topping deal that was financially unsustainable. “It was a tough decision because customers loved it, but we needed to ensure the business could stay open and continue serving the community,” Billy explained.
Quality improvements have been a constant focus. They now source higher quality ingredients, refine their homemade dough and sauce recipes, and hand-cut all produce and toppings. Despite these updates, they remain true to their New York-style pizza roots. A recent trip to New York confirmed that their practice of cooking on stone sets them apart in the local market.
The menu features classic options like pepperoni, supreme, and cheese, alongside specialties such as the employee favorite, Pizza Zen, and seasonal offerings born from Billy and Mariah’s culinary experiments. Their ongoing quest to enhance the customer experience involves frequenting other pizza places and staying abreast of industry trends.
A new creation, the Sweet Heat pizza, will soon be available, featuring pepperoni, jalapeno, pineapple, basil, and hot honey.
Despite his original career path in education, Billy has no regrets. “Every day, I’m grateful for my job. There’s never a day I dread coming to work. It’s very fulfilling,” he shared.
The support from loyal customers has been a cornerstone of Kyle Pizza Co.’s success. “Some customers have been coming here for over 20 years, and the community really supports us,” Billy said. “Once they try us, they see our quality surpasses the national chains. They become regulars and stay with us for years.”
Billy, now 38, appreciates having two decades of experience in his career. “It feels great,” he said. “I look forward to the next 20 years of expanding our offerings, improving our product, and continuing to serve the community with the great, award-winning pizza we’ve been known for.”