Hot Stuff Pizza comes to Archer General Store
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ARCHER – A post office, gas station, burger joint and a hardware store. The Archer General Store has worn many hats over the past few decades and now it’s home to something new – Hot Stuff Pizza.
“This used to be where everybody gathered in the mornings before they’d start work for farming around here,” resident Garrett Costa said.
The store has been closed for about three years so Costa and his family are excited to see the change.
“The food is tried and true and we know we will succeed,” said Richard Holliday, owner of Hot Stuff Pizza.
Holliday said construction on the restaurant started around three months ago and it opened for business Dec. 29.
Since then, business is booming with around 100 people visiting per day.
“Most of our business has been in the evening. We’ll have as many as 10 to 25 people in here at one time,” Holliday said.
Hot Stuff Pizza has a team of five workers ranging from ages 16 to 70. Holliday said the business welcomes senior citizens who are able to work.
“We love senior citizens. They’re very smart, they’ve got a lot of knowledge and they’re hard workers,” Holliday said.
Janeal Thomas, a 73-year-old employee, recently came out of retirement. She enjoys interacting with the customers and likes having something to do.
“I’m glad that it’s open again. I could always remember a store being here. When I was little growing up, there was always a store here,” Thomas said. She said the community has been responding well to the reopening of the historic building.
“I think everybody’s going to be glad it’s back open,” Costa said.
Holliday said he plans to have grocery items available so locals don’t have to travel to Rexburg.
“We want to restore the family feel to the community, and feel like we’re serving families, (which) is what we want to do,” Holliday said.
Archer General Store is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It’s at 7875 S. 1800 West in Madison County.