It’s no secret that local pizza is more than a passion at Saline Journal. Twelve months ago, we produced a video focused on East Michigan Avenue options for National Cheese Pizza Day. [1,2]
That day, September 5, passed weeks ago now. Next up? You’ll have to wait for National Sausage Pizza Day on October 11. For those looking for labels and celebrations, the calendar provides no directed help until then. [3]
But just as it could be argued that nature abhors a vacuum in time and thought, one answer can be found in space. Think outside the City of Saline limits. Roughly halfway along Ann Arbor-Saline Road en route to where things open up in Pittsfield Township for access to local I-94 interchanges, there’s an oasis near the gates of Travis Pointe. [4,5]
Because of the so many other things at which it excels, Tippens Specialty Wine & Foods is a magnet for those who love its pizza. It’s a top choice for individuals who come in to purchase by the slice during Monday through Friday lunchtime. Tippens co-owner Rocky Jarbo also pointed out the other end of their capabilities — including providing pizzas for an event that included the Michigan football team. [6,7,8]
Closer to home, they provided all pizza served at the seventh annual Saline Mayor’s Senior Conference this past summer. [9]
“We also cater a lot of weddings,” Mr Jarbo added as if letting us in on a secret. Couples “come to us to supply the alcohol and when they discover our pizza, it’s a natural to have us handle the food, too, as one package. Or sometimes we do it for a late night snack or rehersal dinner. Anywhere from ten to fifty pizzas. Thirty is typical.”
He’d like to have a month notice, but a Tuesday order for Friday can be done. Two years ago, he took an order from Michigan football for forty pizzas on a Friday morning, for delivery that evening. “It’s an adrenaline rush,” he smiled with satisfaction, recalling the day.
Tippens also offers the same pizza that comes hot from the oven as “take and bake” option. In fact, one in five pizzas they sell are to people who purchase from cold cases in the store for something that can be cooked at home later.
Although the recipe was not disclosed to us, he did point out that it’s unique to Tippens — going on eleven years now. As part of the integrated operation overall, it benefits from volume traffic that assures constantly fresh and refreshed ingredients, and, of course, their signature butcher. Creative offerings range from Hawaiian to white pizza (no sauce), and made-to-order gluton free.
Still, pepperoni is their best selling.
National Pepperoni Pizza Day was last Thursday. If you’re anything like our team, you celebrated it properly (and likely wouldn’t object to celebrating it again now). If not, consider creating your own No Man’s Land Pizza Day soon, with your taste buds set on an appropriately out-of-the-way place that comes highly recommended by the customers it attracts from both here and there.
References
- “National Cheese Pizza Day at Saline 12 east” Dell Deaton (September 5, 2017) Vimeo.
- “September 5th is National Cheese Pizza Day!” John-Bryan Hopkins (September 5, 2017) Foodimentary.
- “October 11th is National Sausage Pizza Day” John-Bryan Hopkins (October 11, 2015) Foodimentary.
- “Human Nature Abhors a Vacuum, Too” Leon F Seltzer PhD (March 5, 2009) Psychology Today.
- Travis Pointe (home page).
- Tippins Market (Facebook Page).
- “Character of Tippins Family Market in Lodi Township Is Likely What You Need It to Be, Whoever You Are” Dell Deaton (May 22, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “Football” University of Michigan.
- “Seventh Annual Saline Mayor’s Senior Conference Brought Together Most Valuable Community Resources” Dell Deaton (June 22, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “National Pepperoni Pizza Day” Holiday Insights.
