Popular Mackay pizzeria to open diner, hire more staff

A popular local business is set to open the doors to a new diner, having previously only been available for takeaway or catering.

Ma's Pizza Kitchen is opening up a new diner so people don't have to eat in their cars outside the shop anymore. Picture: Amanda Webber

NO LONGER will Ma's Pizza Kitchen customers, who travel from across the region, have to eat in their cars - the popular pizzeria is set to open a diner.

Owners Amanda and Mark Webber hope to open the diner next to their Parkside Plaza store within a couple of months.

Mrs Webber said the idea behind the diner was to provide a casual, family-friendly and relaxed place to eat, but not a full-blown restaurant.

She said she and Mark had been speaking about opening up the diner for about 18 months.

With many of their customers driving from as far away as Sarina or the Pioneer Valley, people had been asking for more tables and chairs instead of driving half an hour with the pizza in a box.

"People even eat the pizzas in their cars,” Mrs Webber said.

"The whole thing with Ma's is to be a family-friendly alternative to takeaway that people can enjoy.”

The decor of the diner would be simple, intentionally designed so people could be relaxed, Mrs Webber said.

"Mackay just doesn't offer that,” she said.

"There is no real casual, relaxed, family orientated place.”

In the past four years the business has grown to employ 120 staff across four stores and is now set to expand, although Mrs Weber isn't sure how many new staff would be needed.

"It is a risk and we're scared and nervous,” she said.

"Takeaway is so busy and and so popular at the moment, so we won't change any more than that.”

Mrs Webber also said the diner would offer a selection of locally made desserts.

"We have a community connection,” she said.

"We must almost be Mifsuds' biggest customers and we put a lot back into the community.

"But that's what we want and the community has been great to us too.”

Mrs Webber said she hoped to open the diner in August.

Originally published as Popular Mackay pizzeria to open diner, hire more staff