Weaverville – Hard to believe, but 20 years have come and gone since Matt Danford’s Blue Mountain Pizza opened its doors. How did Weaverville get so lucky?
“I retired and moved down here from Washington, DC, with every intention of a nice quiet life, but I soon found myself bored and decided while I never owned a restaurant, I knew how to eat, so I might as well give it a try,” Danford told the Tribune. “I searched for almost two years for the right location for the right concept that I had laid out in my head.”
“I wanted a location in a small town where we could have an impact, not only by serving great food, but by having great service, live music with local musicians, and be an influence in the community,” explained Danford when asked why Weaverville. “It was also a huge plus being right on Main Street…The location seemed like a great fit in a small town with active artists, and immediately upon walking into our location, I knew it was the right.”
With no background in the restaurant business, why pizza? “Pizza really chose me. I had previously lived in Italy off and on several times over the years. [I] love the culture, love the food, and while in its current state, pizza is an American invention, it is in many ways similar to what is available in areas in Italy,” explained Danford. Plus, everybody loves pizza. Other foods might come and go, but you’re always going to have pizza.”
However, it’s not just his food that’s an asset to the community; it’s also his heart for giving back. “We should all give back, and if you can’t give back to the community that supports your business, who else should you start with? A day does not go by that we do not appreciate the level of support we have, and we want to do everything we can to show our appreciation for the community for allowing us to keep our doors open,” said Danford.
Asked if he had any idea how much he had given back monetarily, Danford said, “Towards the end of 2023, we calculated through our third Thursday program that we had donated to local nonprofits slightly over $500,000. On top of that, we have fed over 7,000 people a free Thanksgiving dinner over 19 years and numerous other small projects.”
He added, “We were the first in the area to be certified a living wage employer by Just Economics… Happy customers start with happy employees, and we try to keep that in mind and make Blue Mountain a fun place to work… some of whom have been there 10 to 15 years.”
The town voted to give Danford and his restaurant a proclamation:
“Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Blue Mountain Pizza WHEREAS, the Town of Weaverville wishes to recognize the twentieth anniversary of Blue Mountain Pizza in Weaverville, NC in March 2024;
WHEREAS, Matt Danford, when searching for a location for his business, was looking for a vibrant, active, small town where Blue Mountain Pizza could become part of the community to give back and make a difference; and
“WHEREAS, Blue Mountain Pizza gives back to the community in numerous ways including hosting a free meal on Thanksgiving Day for the community for the last 19 years, serving 7,000 free meals for those alone or in need on Thanksgiving; and
“WHEREAS, Blue Mountain Pizza started its Third Thursday Fundraising Program 20 years ago, whereby they selected a nonprofit each month to raise money for through a donation box, donating 100% of these proceeds to the selected organization, and Blue Mountain Pizza donates 25% of their business proceeds on the third Thursday monthly to this organization; and
“WHEREAS, Blue Mountain Pizza has also made the commitment to being a certified green business, recycling as much as possible and eliminating the use of plastic bags and takeout packages; and
“WHEREAS, Blue Mountain Pizza became one of the first businesses in the County to provide a living wage in addition to paid days off and paid vacations for its full-time employees and
“WHEREAS, Matt Danford, owner of Blue Mountain Pizza, has been a philanthropic leader in Weaverville, giving back to the community and a wide range of nonprofits; and
“NOW THEREFORE, I, Patrick Fitzsimmons, Mayor of Weaverville, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Town of Weaverville, do hereby commemorate and thank Matt Danford and Blue Mountain Pizza for their care and contributions to the Weaverville community.”
Danford, who knew nothing about the proclamation before the Tribune contacted him, said, “I am touched and grateful and looking forward to seeing it.”