How did your pizza journey begin? What have been the biggest challenges along the way?

Jill: Bernie’s Pizza has been around since the 1950s. My parents actually met at Bernies when they both worked back in their high school days. I started working for Bernie when I was 15 and the rest is history. I think the biggest challenge is owning and running a business on my own. It can be quite demanding but we recently shortened our hours which is working out nicely. I really love doing what I do, our customers are so loyal and supportive!

Who is on the Bernie’s Pizza team? What brings all of you together?

Jill: Bernie’s is a take out only establishment and we’re very simple as far as how we operate. I’m the owner/operator and I mostly have help from my family. My mom, Janet, is retired and helps immensely. My sister, Janine is also a huge help as well as my boyfriend, Eric. I am so grateful to have people in my life that are always willing to help and we always have fun!

You participated in the Back Mountain area’s Fork Over Love program in a huge way, donating over 50 large pizzas. Tell us more about how the program works.

Jill: Fork Over Love is on a mission to nourish our entire community. To this end, they are strengthening the small independent restaurant community by paying them to provide hot delicious takeout meals that can be distributed for free to the entire community so that our food-insecure neighbors can access nutritious meals with 100% dignity and 0% stigma, shame, or hesitation. They’re 100% volunteer and donation based.

What sort of projects would you like to see from Slice Out Hunger next year? Jill: I love what Slice out Hunger is doing! It makes me feel so good to be able to help my local community while also supporting a bigger organization like yours. The only thing I can suggest is more marketing to get the word out to more pizzerias!

We hear that you won 2020 Best Round Pizza in the Best of Back Mountain awards. Congrats! Which of your pies is your favorite?

Jill: I’m a sucker for Bernie’s plain pie (always well done) but there are so many that I love! The chicken wing pizza is a huge seller along with the feta cheese & spinach pizza.