News travels fast in Albion, and word about the reopening of Gina’s Pizza and Deli was no exception. With next to nothing spent on advertising, Gina’s Pizza and Deli has received steady business since its reopening Oct. 19.
The first Gina’s Pizza and Deli was opened by Gina Pritchard and located on East Porter St., next door to Charlie’s Tavern. In 1999, Gina’s relocated to an renovated warehouse next to the train tracks and was renamed “Gina’s By The Tracks”.
Pritchard left the restaurant in 2003 to work at Chrysler. After 8 years, she was approached by a friend to reopen her business. An old bank building at the corner of Michigan Ave. and Clark St. was purchased to house the new Gina’s. Remodeling began in April 2011.
Pritchard strives to keep her business as locally-based as possible.
“All of my meats are Michigan based. I don’t have a freezer. Everything is fresh,” Pritchard said.
Albion College students have already begun to explore the new restaurant. Plymouth senior Hannah Mills visited Gina’s last Thursday with some friends.
“I had a turkey sandwich, and it was delicious,” Mills said. “The staff was nice and chatty with us, and I would definitely go back again.”
Gina’s has a staff of 30, all residents from the city of Albion.
“I just can’t say enough about them. We all clicked. We’re a good team. They like coming to work,” Pritchard said.
Employee Kari Hopson spoke of how Gina’s offers a nice, clean and friendly place to eat.
“Albion needs something like this,” Hopson said.
So glad Gina’s is back in Albion! The crazy crust was crazy good back in the early-mid 1990s, as many of my fellow alumni will attest.