Miner Bill’s Combines Pizza & Town Pride
When Miner Bill’s Pizza Delivery & Carry-Out owner Beth Spears decided to open this eatery 3 years ago, it wasn’t just about providing hungry customers a place to enjoy dining out.
As someone with a passion for ensuring the past and bygone days that helped mold this town are never forgotten, Beth says along with a delicious pizza, her logic in starting the restaurant centered around “keeping awareness of Granby and the mining history that shaped our community alive, as well as being the first to bring delivery service to our residents.”
One clever way of connecting various selections on Miner Bill’s menu with Granby’s rich history is through creative names that come from local mines and geological terminology designed to help provide customers a better sense of their town’s past.
Beth says, “We have ‘The Mother Lode’ that’s our supreme pizza loaded with all the toppings. Hence ‘We hit the Mother Lode.’ There’s ‘The Fool’s Gold’ that’s Canadian bacon and pineapple. We have ‘The Golden Rule Bierock’ that’s named after the Golden Rule Mine, and ‘The Mascot Mine,’ which is our cheese pizza that’s named after the Mascot Mine. We also have ‘The Crabapple Mine Pizza,’ which is made with Granny Smith apples, cinnamon and sugar, and mozzarella cheese.”
Sharing a little more insight on the concept of linking mining terminology with choices on the menu, Beth says, “We correlate the ingredients. ‘The Mozarkite’ is our pizza with Canadian bacon and mozzarella cheese. The Mozarkite is Missouri’s State Rock. ‘The Fishbone Shaft’ is our anchovy pizza. It’s named after the Fishbone Shaft Mine.”
Along with descriptive wording, Beth says, “Other than naming pizzas after local mines, we have several mining pictures. There are Sanborn maps (detailed blueprint of U.S. cities and towns in the 19th and 20th centuries) of Granby from the early 1900s to 1933. There’s also a city map that shows the locations of mines and businesses with a little history.”
The best way of recognizing that Beth’s historical strategy combined with great-tasting pizza has paid off is by how much those who stop by for a meal enjoy the food and atmosphere this entrepreneur has designed.
Chris and Julie Weding find it appealing and they agree that “Miner Bill’s Pizza is a one-of-a-kind artisan pizza that honors the rich mining history of the oldest town in Southwest Missouri.
“Their menu is a variety of mining terms. One of our favorites is ‘The Blossom Rock Pizza’ and a pig, which is a homemade brownie. This restaurant is the best reason to stop and dine in Granby.”
Amy Tanner is another local patron who believes this is a great place to eat, and she says, “We love Miner Bill’s Pizza because it’s the best. The crust is great, and the sauce and toppings are the best. When we’re at work, we love to buy the lunch buckets. They’re handy and just the right amount for lunch.
“Beth has photos around the lobby from several local mines that show people working at them. She also has a hand-drawn map hanging on the wall that helps reflect pride in our town.”
Amy appreciates Beth’s approach to presenting just the right vibe at Miner Bill’s and says, “She has pride in all she does. She’s upgraded the shop this year and that’s changed the atmosphere for the better. It’s so warm and inviting to eat there. It’s a great place to stop and hang out in our town.”
As for the type of hang-out Beth decided to start, her reasons for not specializing in burgers, tacos, deli-style sandwiches or any other similar possibilities is rather straightforward. and she says, “Everyone loves a great pizza. So, I thought why not name some of the pizzas after local mines for the history in it?”
When it comes to the team that makes it all happen four days a week, Beth says, “There are a total of four employees on a regular basis. Everyone takes turns making dough, preparing pizzas for the oven, boxing them up and making the deliveries.”
In addition to having a group that works well together, Beth says one of the most important aspects in operating a business is “having a quality product that is more homemade with a purpose instead of just trying to imitate national franchises.”
It makes sense that several family members have influenced Beth’s work in a big way, and she says, “My great-great-uncle Bill Miller and great-great-aunt Beulah Miller, and their son, my cousin, Billy Miller, have inspired me. So have my nieces, Allison and Natalie Spears.
“My great-great-uncle Bill worked in a few mines and had some mine shafts on his property. My cousin Billy loved cheese pizza. And when my nieces were visiting other relatives in Kansas City, they always thought ordering pizza and having it delivered was just the greatest thing in the world.”
While her staff and support from relatives have proven beneficial, it’s not always easy. Beth says, “The toughest part is advertising. Getting the word out in a small community that we’re open for business and offer free delivery has been challenging. I just keep posting on Facebook and asking my family and friends to help spread the word.”
Regardless of the demands as a business owner, Beth says success is all about “believing in your product and the idea behind what made you want to take on the venture, as well as having a good rapport with your employees.”
Beth’s passion for preserving the past has played a prominent role in how she operates Miner Bill’s, and she says, “Granby is known as the oldest mining town in the southwest and has some of the richest veins of lead. A lot of the lead that was mined in our area was used in the Civil War.”
It gives Beth a great deal of satisfaction to run a business in her hometown and she says there’s a sense of pride in “knowing that I am contributing to my community. I just wanted to bring together history, convenience and affordable, quality food and free delivery for our residents.”
Beth believes Miner Bill’s is a destination, and she says what makes it so appealing is “the general nostalgia of stepping back in time and enjoying a great pizza while learning a little history with it.”
Miner Bill’s Pizza Delivery & Carry-Out Fast Facts
Owner: Beth Spears
Hometown: Granby, Missouri
High School Alma Mater/Year Graduated: East Newton High School/1986
College: Missouri University of Science & Technology
College Degree: Engineering Management
Jobs/Job Titles Most of Adult Life: Production/Manufacturing Engineer
Mentor/Influence in Beth’s Life: Her dad
Hobbies: Traveling, cooking, spending time with family and shooting sports
Miner Bill’s Address: 136 S. Main, Granby, Missouri
Miner Bill’s Phone Number: 417-472-7800
Hours of Operation: Thursday-Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Online Orders: order.tbdine.com (look for EASpears Enterprise LLC)
