This insightful article was inspired by content originally published on Montclair Local by Georgette Gilmore
Montclair, NJ, just got a pizza injection of soul. Maker Pizza opened at 171 Forest Street on July 28, 2025, in the former Ruthie’s BBQ space. Founded by the Turkish-born Demirpence brothers Fahri, Mustafa, and Ahmet the shop is a fresh statement in artisan dough, global flavor, and heartfelt neighborhood pizza.
Maker Pizza Montclair is now open offering bold pies and big flavor that’s already inspiring pizza lovers, suppliers, and local shop owners alike.
🍕 For Pizza Enthusiasts: Dough Stories, Ingredient Craft & DIY Inspiration
A Family’s Pizza History Roots
Fahri began as a Turkish baker, forging his craft before shifting to pizza in Philadelphia in 2015 and 2016 with multiple pizzerias under the “Founded Pizza” name. Now, the brothers bring their culture-forward pizza back to New Jersey with Maker Pizza. Their story adds rich pizza history facts to every bite.
Dough as Living Art
At Maker Pizza, dough is made from unbleached flour, topped with fresh tomato sauce, high‑quality cheeses, and locally sourced produce. All pizzas are fired in a specially designed brick oven, producing crusts that are crisp-faced with airy, rustic interiors a true tribute to regional slice craftsmanship.
DIY Inspiration at Home
Home pizzaiolos: you can channel Maker Pizza’s ethos in your kitchens:
- Develop a pizza dough recipe using high-gluten, unbleached flour.
- Cold‑ferment your dough for flavor depth.
- Use artisanal pizza ingredients, like house-made sauce from plum tomatoes and artisan cheeses.
- Upgrade kitchen tools with pizza making tools like a best pizza stone for crispy crusts and a stainless steel peel.
- Consider investing in the best home pizza oven for artisanal results.
These steps replicate Maker Pizza’s quality on your own counter.
Signature Pies That Tell a Tale
Top menu picks include:
- Margherita Burrata Pesto – mozzarella, burrata dollops, Parmesan, basil pesto, sliced basil, tomato sauce. A symphony of balanced dairy and herb.
You can recreate it at home with artisanal pizza ingredients like fresh burrata, micro basil, and stone‑milled flour for that rustic crust touch.
🧂 For Pizza Suppliers: New Demand Trends & Tech Innovation
Boost Bulk Pizza Ingredients Demand
Maker Pizza’s approach signals growing demand for:
- High-gluten, unbleached flour blends.
- Fresh plum tomato sauce bases.
- Specialty cheeses like burrata, micro-basil, and pesto.
These appeal to artisanal and local pizzerias seeking bulk pizza ingredients that prioritize quality and flavor.
Commercial Pizza Equipment & Food Service Tech
Brick ovens, dough mixers, and prep lines are key. Suppliers can step in with:
- Brick or modular ovens that replicate Maker Pizza’s crisp bake.
- Dough-sheeters and proofing equipment for consistent artisanal dough.
- Food service technology pizza systems connecting store operations and customer orders efficiently.
These are aligned with wider pizza industry trends toward automation meeting craft.
Sustainable Pizza Sourcing Opportunities
Maker Pizza emphasizes high-quality, locally sourced produce and cheeses. Suppliers can lean into sustainable pizza sourcing, offering traceable, ethically produced ingredient lines that match this consumer-forward ethos.
🍽️ For Pizza Shop Owners: Strategies Inspired by Maker Pizza’s Debut
Menu Innovation That Marries Cultures
Maker Pizza offers four distinct styles: thin round and square (NY-style), Detroit-style deep dish, Grandma-style, gluten-free, and soon Roman-style.
Actionable steps:
- Introduce a pizza shop marketing strategies campaign around hybrid styles e.g., “Florentine deep‑dish” or “Global‑fusion Grandma pie.”
- Offer rotating signature pies like Margherita Burrata Pesto or Gen Tso Chicken-inspired flavors.
Operational Efficiency: Quality Without Delay
Maker uses a brick oven for quick bake times ideal for fast but authentic delivery. To match this:
- Create prep stations dedicated to dough shaping, toppings, and bake cycles.
- Use a modern pizza POS system to track order flow, kitchen timing, and peak efficiency.
Build a Loyalty Base with Unique Offerings
Maker Pizza stands out via product storytelling and ingredient transparency. For shop owners:
- Launch customer loyalty pizza programs, offering rewards tied to signature pie purchases.
- Promote stories about dough sourcing, cheese quality, and flavor maps.
- Encourage user-generated content with branded hashtags like #MakerSliceMontclair.
🔍 Pizza Industry Trends Spotlighted by Maker Pizza
Fusion Pizza with Authentic Roots
Maker Pizza shows how blending Turkish baking tradition with American pizza styles creates standout flavor. This underscores broader trends in pizza industry trends such as global fusion, plant-based inputs, and chef-curated toppings.
Flexibility in Styles & Dietary Options
Offering gluten-free, vegan, Detroit-style, and Roman-style pies acknowledges diverse consumer trends and positions the brand for inclusive appeal.
Ingredient Transparency & Local Identity
Maker Pizza’s local produce sourcing and quality storytelling align with consumer demand for transparency, ethical sourcing, and chef lineage. This is a growing pillar in pizza branding.
🧠 Pizza Pro Corner: Expert Tips Inspired by Maker Pizza
We spoke to a hypothetical pizza expert, Chef Lina Marino, analyzing how Maker Pizza’s approach translates to actionable tips:
- Cold‑ferment your dough using high-protein, unbleached flour for chewy structure.
- Use a brick or stone oven to achieve crispy exterior and tender crumb.
- Create hybrid pies combine regional styles like Detroit edge with Italian herbs, or Turkish spices fused with NY pie.
- Source local and high-quality ingredients and showcase provenance to build trust and flavor credibility.
- Train staff with build stations, sequencing dough prep, topping, and bake flow to maximize product consistency and speed.
Final Slice
Maker Pizza isn’t just Montclair’s new slice stop it’s a blueprint for the future of pizza rooted in heritage, quality, and kitchen creativity. The Demirpence brothers’ journey from Turkish bakeries to artisanal pies in New Jersey anchors every slice in flavor and story.
For enthusiasts, the shop inspires at-home experimentation with fermentation, brick-baking, and ingredient pairing.
For suppliers, it signals emerging demand for boutique dough and sourcing transparency.
And for shop owners, it sets a benchmark in menu innovation, kitchen workflow, and community-rooted marketing.
The future of pizza blends craft, story, and versatility and Maker Pizza delivers that slice by slice.
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