Poppy Pies, a popular food truck in Jackson, has opened a new brick-and-mortar restaurant in the Belhaven Town Center. The new location had a soft opening on Sunday night, September 22, during the Belhaven Bright Lights event. Previously, the Poppy Pies food truck operated just outside its new home on Manship Street, which features a variety of restaurants and shops.
Owner Gray Welch, a Jackson native, started Poppy Pies nearly two and a half years ago. The business began with a catering tent and three portable pizza ovens. Welch sold pizzas at markets, birthday parties, and weddings. After about seven months, he expanded to a food truck, which allowed the team to produce a larger volume of pizzas.
The new restaurant will operate from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with plans to extend hours in the future. It is located inside the same building as Fertile Ground Beer Co. at 800 Manship St.
The menu focuses on Neapolitan pizzas, a traditional Italian style made with soft dough and cooked at high temperatures for a short time. This method creates a crunchy, light pizza with characteristic “leopard spots.” Menu options include Margherita, burrata, sausage and onion, and the Captain—a signature pizza topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, smoked gouda, cream cheese, Ritz crackers, green onions, and sweet pepper glaze. The full menu is available on the Poppy Pies website.
The name “Poppy Pies” is a tribute to Welch’s three-year-old daughter, Poppy. After her birth, Welch, now 31, tried working in the corporate world but found it was not for him. He previously worked in restaurants and enjoyed the hospitality industry. His passion for pizza began at Sal and Mookie’s in Madison shortly after it opened in 2020.
“I love the fast-paced adrenaline of serving people and the satisfaction of providing something tangible that makes them happy,” Welch said.
Transitioning from a food truck to a restaurant has brought several benefits, particularly air conditioning. “The volume is higher, which is good, but it’s easier because you’re not sweating in the Mississippi sun,” Welch explained.
Looking ahead, Poppy Pies plans to expand its menu, offering wine and beer options as well as new pizza styles. A separate oven is set up in the restaurant to experiment with different pizza styles. In the coming weeks, Welch’s team will work on perfecting artisanal New York and Detroit-style pizzas.
For now, the Poppy Pies food truck will take a break. Welch intends for the truck to serve festivals and private events in the future, but his current focus is on the new restaurant’s success.
“I want Poppy Pies to be the go-to place for pizza,” Welch said. “We use high-quality ingredients, and I want it to be part of your weekly rotation. Jackson is seeing many new, excellent concepts, and I hope people will include us among those great businesses. When you want pizza without compromise, that’s what we aim to be.”
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