Hungry Marion Countians can still get tasty pizza during the coronavirus pandemic with Fox’s Pizza Den continuing to serve its customers.
Fox’s had to close its lobby but is still serving customers via its drive-through and curbside service. It has also been running specials it doesn’t usually run to keep business coming in to keep the staff on during this difficult time, according to owner Russ Foxworth.
“The drive-through has been really big. Obviously we’re wearing gloves and masks to help people feel safer,” he said. “It’s going really, really well.”
The drive-through actually came from the restaurant that was in that location before Fox’s, and the Columbia location is the only Fox’s with a drive-through that Foxworth owns. He said if he had known how valuable it could be, when he built his other two locations he would’ve definitely added a drive-through.
Fox’s menu is bigger than just pizza and also features sandwiches, salads, chicken and wedgies. Part of what makes Fox’s unique is its specialty pizzas, which include bacon double cheeseburger, taco, meats, veggie, buffalo chicken and barbecue beef and bacon among others. It also has gluten-free and cauliflower crust and is dedicated to producing the best possible meals.
“We try to use the freshest and best quality products,” Foxworth said.
Foxworth first got started with Fox’s Pizza with Michael Bradshaw in Sumrall, which didn’t have a pizza place. They went into business together and put a franchise in Sumrall before Bradshaw got out of it. Foxworth continued with it and expanded and currently has stores in Columbia, Hattiesburg and Ellisville.
Foxworth said he believes being from the area and knowing the community has helped Fox’s remain successful over the past seven years, as well as keeping a good staff and good managers. Fox’s Pizza Den is based out of Pennsylvania and has a sweeter pizza sauce that gives it its unique flavor.
“It’s a good franchise that has been around since 1979 so they know what they’re doing and have been around for a while,” Foxworth said.
When restaurants are able to open back up, Fox’s will likely limit how many customers it lets in while maintaining the safety precautions of the staff 41 masks and gloves for at least a month.
“We would do that for everyone’s protection,” Foxworth said. “We would have the tables more spread apart and keep everyone at a safe distance.”
Fox’s is open from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. during the week and closes at 9 p.m. on Saturdays currently. It can be contacted at (601) 444-0001, on its website foxspizza.com, through social media and has a daily group-text service.
While Foxworth said there isn’t any particular short or long-term goals at this time, he wants to continue to be creative with various specials to keep people excited.
“I appreciate everybody in the community continuing to support us and keeping our doors open and employees paid,” he said. “The local banks have really helped me out with the SBA loans getting the information needed. The community has been really good and helpful to us through all this.”
