Slim & Husky’s, a pizza chain founded by childhood friends Clint Gray, Derrick Moore, and EJ Reed, has become a staple in Nashville. The name comes from a playful reference to their childhood, where Reed was slim, while Gray and Moore were in the “husky” section of the department store.
Before opening Slim & Husky’s, the trio started a moving business while attending Tennessee State University. They grew the business to multiple trucks and 45 employees. After selling it for a seven-figure sum, they sought a new venture.
The friends decided to open a fast-casual pizza restaurant in North Nashville, an area often overlooked for investment. They aimed to create job opportunities for local residents, particularly high school students, who can earn scholarships by maintaining good grades while working.
The restaurant embraces the Nashville community with vibrant murals and hip-hop lyrics throughout its dining spaces. Slim & Husky’s offers signature pizzas named after hip-hop songs, available in two sizes: the 10-inch “slim” and the 16-inch “husky.”
One of the most popular pizzas is the P.R.E.A.M., which stands for “pizza rules everything around me.” It features white sauce, a house cheese blend, spinach, pepperoni, pulled Italian sausage, mushrooms, and red onions. For those seeking a vegan option, The Nuthin’ But a V Thang includes plant-based cheese, pepperoni, and sausage. The Nashville hot chicken pizza pays homage to the city’s famous dish, topped with white meat chicken, jalapeños, banana peppers, dill-parmesan seasoning, and a drizzle of hot honey.
Customers can also customize their pizzas with a variety of ingredients, including several types of pepperoni, chorizo, shrimp, and artichokes. Slim & Husky’s offers housemade sauces called “drizzles” to enhance any pizza. For dessert, customers can enjoy sweet cinnamon rolls, which pair well with a cold Pepsi.
The founders have continued their strategy of opening in underserved areas, often near HBCUs, and have expanded to 10 locations in Tennessee and Georgia in just nine years. Their latest location in Nashville’s Fifth + Broadway retail center made history as the first Black-owned restaurant downtown.
Their success has garnered recognition, including a nomination for Outstanding Restaurateur in America from the James Beard Foundation Awards in 2023. However, the true measure of Slim & Husky’s success lies in the loyal customers who flock to their locations for delicious pizza in a unique atmosphere.
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