Water leak temporarily closes Ralphie’s Pizza in Ridgeland. When will doors open again?
Debby didn’t do this, but the floors of the popular Ralphie’s Pizza and Eatery were covered in water as if she did.
After being opened for only six months, the Ridgeland restaurant, specializing in authentic New York-style crust, had to shut the doors when 300-gallons of water from a ice machine leak caused flooding in the restaurant in late July.
The owner, Joel Mathis, predicts that the shop will open back up in about three weeks, and patrons can expect more than just replacements to the damaged interior.
“We were finally getting there, and then all of this happened,” Mathis said, “It’s sad. I can’t wait to get back open with my crew... I just want to get back to work flipping pies.”
In addition to replacing the flooring and lighting, the renovations will transform the look and feel of the pizzeria to a sports bar or pub, Mathis said. An 85-inch television, a new and improved bar, and additional handheld foods, including wings, wraps, and sandwiches, will all make their debut at the opening, just in time for football season.
Mathis, a native New Yorker, has lived in Bluffton for eight years. He started out as a chef at The Crazy Crab Jarvis Creek on Hilton Head, but he missed the thin crust style of a New York pie. When the restaurant first opened at the beginning of the year, he was overwhelmed by the volume of support they received. Month after month since the opening, Mathis said, his crew has delivered a more consistent product.
Although there are no formal plans in place, Mathis says he has considered expanding their current space to add a takeout area and an additional pizza oven. Mathis says that once the renovations are complete, he would also consider opening up a second location in the area.
This story was originally published August 19, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
