Jeff Harrell, manager of The Pizza Store in Niles, tosses dough for a 14-inch mushroom pizza. The restaurant opened recently on South 11th Street. (Daily Star photo/KATIE JOHNSON)

By JESSICA SIEFF

Niles Daily Star

For small business owners, the wallop of the recession continues to sting.

In Niles, however, there is a positive spin on what could have otherwise been an all too common story.

After opening up Pine Lake Pizza in 2008, owner Jeff Harrell said recent economic times left the business struggling.

“The closing of Pine Lake was kind of an unfortunate event,” he said.  “We wanted to close the dining room,” but couldn’t work out an agreement to save money on lease, he said.

“The recession kind of hit us hard,” Harrell said.

For Harrell, it meant Pine Lake Pizza would have to shut its doors — but all was not lost.

Putting some of his equipment up for sale on Craigslist, Harrell said he met up with an interested buyer, Doug Murphy of Bruno’s Pizza, just over the state line in Roseland, Ind. Murphy had opened up a new eatery in Niles on South 11th Street, just behind Payless Shoe Store.

The Pizza Store offers everything from pizza to ribs, available for dine-in, carry-out or delivery.

Following their meeting, Murphy offered Harrell the opportunity to keep his dream going in a new venue, as manager for The Pizza Store.

Since taking him up on the position, Harrell said he’s seen plenty of his Pine Lake customers coming in for food at the new restaurant.

“Traffic has almost doubled” since he came to the business, he said.

He’s hoping to bring in some of the favorites from Pine Lake’s menu but until then, Harrell said one of The Pizza Store’s bestsellers are its ribs.

“The pizza here is really good —  it’s similar to the Bruno’s pizza that was here before,” Harrell said. “He’s got great ribs out here — the best ribs in town.”

Turnout and customer feedback has been good so far, Harrell said, which is just another positive in a story where collaboration breeds business.

“I think we’re heading in the right direction,” he said.

The Pizza Store is located at 2714 South 11th St., Niles. Its phone number is 684-8800. Hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It is closed Monday and Tuesday.