A former Alma restaurant once known for its Italian buffet and family atmosphere is again bustling with food and laughter, thanks to a local postal carrier.
Jim Polly, whose day job is delivering mail, re-opened the Pizza Parlor on Highway 71 in January.
The restaurant closed after owner Corey Looper passed way in 2021. At Looper’s celebration of life, Polly first thought about ownership.
“Some of the waitresses came up to me and said, ‘Jim, you should buy the place,’ ” Polly recalled.
Mitchell Looper, Corey’s brother and original owner, also encouraged Polly to buy the restaurant. “I want our legacy to keep going,” he told Polly.
It seemed like a perfect fit. After all, Polly, a Mulberry native, was a senior in high school when he started as a dishwasher there. Over the next 17 years, Polly worked just about every job at the restaurant. He knew how to run it.
Since 1974, the casual atmosphere and large seating capacity made the Pizza Parlor one of Alma’s hot spots for events, like after-game celebrations and birthday parties. The Italian-inspired buffet, with lasagna, spaghetti, and, of course, pizza, was a staple in the community.
For guidance through the acquisition, Polly turned to Bill Sabo of the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center.
It took 25 long months to get the financing approved. It seemed there was always another piece of paperwork or documentation the bank needed. Through it all, Sabo assisted Polly, providing advice and support by phone, email, or in person 35 times during those months.
“Mostly, you gave me the confidence and helped with the business plan and financials,” Polly said. “What you guys did was really important.”
Not only did the ASBTDC help with his business plan and financial projections, it also provided market data the bank used to make its underwriting decisions. One report showed that the restaurant scene had not changed since the Pizza Parlor closed, meaning there was a good change the restaurant would be successful again if it reopened.
Despite the delays, Polly said the result was worth it.
“It’s great to hear everyone laughing and cutting up,” he said. “It’s touching how many handshakes I get.”
Asked if he plans to make any changes, Polly said he installed new carpet and did a deep cleaning, but the menu is the same as when Looper owned it.
“Customers said they weren’t coming back unless it was exactly the same. So we kept it the same, even down to the spices we use,” he said.
