A new pizzeria has opened in Orillia.
Located at 200 Memorial Ave., Unit 5, Red Swan Pizza aims to serve pizza flavours that are new to the Sunshine City. While it offers traditional options, it also has unique items such as honey garlic chicken, creamy avocado, and barbecue shrimp.
“We have a lot of things that you wouldn’t see somewhere else,” says owner Ronak Patel. “We give people some different options.”
Red Swan Pizza opened on Canada Day, and Patel says business is booming.
“We are getting a nice response from the community,” he said. “Lots of people are loving our honey garlic chicken pizza.”
Patel and his staff make fresh pizza dough and slice the meat, cheese, and vegetables daily.
“We put a lot of time and care into our pizza,” he said. “It’s paying off because we are getting good reviews.”
He acknowledges there is lots of competition in the local pizza market, especially on Memorial Avenue.
“We aren’t afraid of the competition,” he said. “If your food is good and you are giving good service, people will come.”
Despite the crowded pizza market, Patel says there is nowhere else he’d rather run his business.
“I have loved living here in Orillia,” he said. “I’ve been here since 2018 and I love the small-town feel.”
Red Swan Pizza has a diverse menu that also includes nachos, potato wedges, chicken wings, salads, bread sticks, and desserts.
Patel, 34, has put plenty of work into becoming a franchisee. He worked at Wendy’s for more than two years to save up for the Red Swan Pizza business opportunity after moving to Canada from India.
“I was at Wendy’s full time and when I got off work I’d work as a pizza delivery driver until 3 o’clock in the morning,” he said. “I’d have to get up the next day at 6 o’clock in the morning to work at the Wendy’s again.”
The hard work has paid off for Patel. He is now living his dream of owning and operating a business in Canada.