From DHL Pilot to Pizzaman – It’s All in The Wrist

January 20, 2017
By Herb Ryan

CUSTER, SD – Steve Giraud, owner of Pizza Works in Custer, SD probably qualifies as the only pizzaman with 30 years experience flying commercial aircraft in South Dakota. Steve was a pilot for DHL flying Boeing 737’s, Airbus 8300’s and DC-8 commercial aircraft out of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2012, DHL laid off all its air crews when they decided to go with a contract carrier. Wanting to stay in the Cincinnati area, the decision was made to buy a local business, but steve said “nothing looked good, bad locations, devious sellers, and shady characters did not instill confidence in the area’s we were looking”.

Giraud knew Gary King the owner of Custer Pizza Works, and his daughter had worked for him in the summer. Giraud said, ” when I found out he was selling, we got together and I bought the business because this was a man I trusted”. The first year in business did exactly what King said it would do. The menu is a little different from Kings, the pizza formulas that he sold Giraud are the same ones used for twenty years.

Giraud explained that they are somewhat of a throwback in the pizza industry that now uses frozen pizza crust, frozen pre-chopped veggies and other prepared toppings. The difference he said was ” we still do it the old school way, we make our own fresh pizza dough, use real Wisconsin cheese and chop our own vegetables every day”. Giraud mentioned,  Pizza Works is setting up a loyalty program that gives one point for every dollar spent. You can sign up with your email at Pizza Works in Custer. And continued, Pizza Works Pizza will be available in Hill City in two weeks at Mountain Treats located next to Harley Davidson on Main St.

For the remainder of the winter Pizza Works is offering a Tuesday Night Special – “All You Can Eat Pasta” for $4.99

Pizza Works winter hours:

• Sunday, Monday, Tuesday- 11:30 to 2:30 and 4:30 to 8:30

• Wednesday- Closed

• Thursday, Friday, Saturday- 11:30 to 8:30

Pizza Works
429 Mt. Rushmore Rd.
Custer, SD 57730

(605) 673-2020

Theresa Clemens manager in training for the new Hill City Pizza Works serves pizza to Allen Trask and Debra Mayer Thursday evening January 19, 2017 at the Custer Pizza Works Custer Area Chamber of Commerce event. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press

 

Pizza Works manager Jarred Yates demonstrates a variant on the “levitating pizza dough spin” Thursday evening January 19, 2017 at the Custer Pizza Works Custer Area Chamber of Commerce event. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press

 

The owner of Custer Pizza Works Steve Giraud demonstrates his ” dance like an egyptian” pizza dough spin” Thursday evening January 19, 2017 at the Custer Pizza Works Custer Area Chamber of Commerce event. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press

 

A Pizza Works employee checks a sandwich Thursday evening January 19, 2017 at the Custer Pizza Works Custer Area Chamber of Commerce event. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press

 

Pizza Works employee Dakota Jacquemin prepares a “to go” for a customer Thursday evening January 19, 2017 at the Custer Pizza Works Custer Area Chamber of Commerce event. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press