Above: Three generations of Pizza Joint owners – back, Matt Howarth, Toby Howarth, Charles Dicks, Rod Kirk, front, Kim Howarth, Jen Kirk and Donna Dicks.
For more than 35 years the Pizza Joint has been a part of the Narrabri community, but sadly for customers of the locally-owned business the takeaway establishment closed its doors on Sunday evening.
Located in the Centreway Arcade, Pizza Joint has provided teenagers with their first jobs and locals and travellers with delicious pizza over the years.
Charles and Donna Dicks have owned the business for the past 12 years after buying it from former owners Rod and Jen Kirk.
Before Rod and Jen it was owned by Matt and Kim Howarth who bought it from Kim’s parents Graham and Pat Light.
Pizza Joint was originally opened in 1983 by Keith and Ros Millerd.
Last year Donna and Charles made their intentions of selling the business well known, eager to move on to a new chapter in their lives and spend more time with their growing family.
Earlier this year they decided to keep the business going but said that they would close the doors when the new financial year arrived if no one else decided to buy it.
Donna said that closing the business was a hard decision, but it was one that she and Charles had to make.
“It’s a bit sad that it’s gone,” Donna said. “It’s been really good, meeting new people over the years.
“Also with staff, being able to put a lot of young kids through, for some it was their very first job.
“Tahlia Packer for example has been there since she was about 15 and she’s now in her 20s, she left for a little while but came back.
“We’ve had great staff over the years, that’s what helps make the business run.
“Charles and I will definitely miss the ‘friendly banter’ we all shared while working.”
Donna and Charles have created many happy memories in the past 12 years of owning Pizza Joint.
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