Nestled inside a small building on the corner of Bingham Ave. and E. Ann St. in Sault Ste. Marie is Fatt Matt's Brick-Oven Pizza Co.
The building is smidge smaller than a two-car garage, but it's packed with so much pizza goodness. That's because the owner, (Fatt) Matt Dovick, started a young age in the restaurant business and followed his aspirations.
"I started working in restaurants on Beaver Island every summer when I was a little kid. I washed dishes and made pizzas.
I was 15-years-old and became the head pizza man at the Beachcomber. It was then I knew someday I would own a pizza restaurant," Dovick said.
Then Dovick moved to the Soo to go to college and then do everything after but work in restaurants after college.
That changed, though, when he was at the ripe age of 40.
"I saw that this place was up for sale. I made an offer. Then COVID happened. The owners called me and said they had a cash offer on the table. I told him I couldn't do it. A year later, he called me again and asked if I was still interested, and here I am," Dovick chuckled.
He officially opened up Fatt Matt's in late Spring 2021 which was about the same time the mask mandates were lifted.
"The reason why I wanted this place is because it is good pizza. I did not want to lose a good pizza. I remember going to college and it was King's Pizza. Every Sunday, I would order a pasty and it made me feel better. Then I would order pizza from Upper Crust. Now, I took over. I have kept some of the same things, but have tweaked a few things," Dovick said.
Fatt Matt's has a 5-mile delivery zone from their location which serves all within the city limit, but the majority of his business comes from carry-outs.
Fatt Matt's pizza is so popular that they cater to visiting hockey teams that play the Soo Eagles.
The menu consists of more than just pizza. Chicken wings along with pasties and appetizers are crowd favorites. A new twist that Dovick has added is using Mike's Hot Honey on a specialty pizza. That, too, is becoming more and more of a favorite, even as a side.
"You put Mike's Hot Honey on a pepperoni pizza, and it is just the most amazing flavor ever. It's not spicy or hot, it just has a great flavor," Dovick said.
With the College Football Bowl Games and Playoffs going on for a few weeks, along with the NFL season, Dovick welcomes large orders for parties. Dovick recommends giving advance notice so he can be prepared for the large orders.
"You can come into this town and see Pizza Hut. Hungry Howies. Little Caeser's. You all know what they are. Then you see Fatt Matt's, a one-and-only of its kind in the Soo. When I was picking out the name, I said 'Fatt Matt's'. My sisters and wife all said it was a horrible name so I thought that then the name is going to stick with people," Dovick concluded.
For more information on Fatt Matt's, click here.
