CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Andrew Dueñas has been making pizza since he was a kid in California, where his father, a Chicago native, owned and operated a family pizza shop.
That shop, Joe & Tony’s, closed during the 2008 housing crisis. But Dueñas is trying to fire back up the family tradition, and from his own kitchen.
The ‘pizza lottery’
Dueñas moved to Clarksville after leaving the Army in 2017. He started selling pizzas from his home about nine months ago as a way of making extra money.
His menu includes Chicago deep dish, thin crust, and stuffed pizza. He takes orders every Wednesday via Facebook and makes pizza over the weekend. Orders are limited to a first-come, first-served basis, a system he calls the “pizza lottery.”
Dueñas said he takes about 60 orders and makes around 150 pizzas each lottery. On a recent Wednesday, Dueñas sold out orders in under five minutes.
“It’s like belonging to a secret club that so many wish to be in,” said Donna Jo Bolton, on of Dueñas’ happy customers. “When it’s your turn and you finally get to experience Andrew’s pizza, you understand finally that the hype is real and the effort to get the pizza is so worth it.”
Bolton called the pizza some of the best she’s ever had, but said it was Dueñas himself who keeps people coming back for more.
“He treats each order with the utmost care,” Bolton said. “Then you meet him and your mind is blown. He is the nicest and kindest guy I have ever met. He cares about his customers and how we enjoyed the food. He comments on every review someone posts and expresses his appreciation. How can you not love the guy?
“He’s out there doing big things with his two hands, oven and love of good pizza. You can’t beat that!”
Dueñas credits much of his success to the Clarksville and Surrounding Areas Food Scene Facebook Page, which hosts the lottery and where members regularly show off photos of their pizza orders.
“That page has been a blessing to me. They have loved me and loved my food. I owe them everything,” Dueñas said.
What’s next?
Dueñas hopes to continue the Chicago tradition here in Clarksville, whether it’s through pizza or his love of the Cubs.
With his recent success, Dueñas is working on getting business loan so he can open his own restaurant. He said his pizza shop will be named Camacho’s, after his father.