Ellabel’s Pizzeria opens in Ellaville

Published 8:31 pm Wednesday, October 16, 2024

A ribbon cutting for Ellabel’s Pizzeria was held October 15. Brooke Belcher is the owner and operator. Her husband, Brian Belcher, told how they had come to acquire the building, and how his friend, Joey Stephens, was the previous owner. “We kind of grew up together and knew each other.” Both went into business. “I opened Southern Automotive, which is a repair shop here in town, and he took this over from his granddad. So, throughout the years, I would mess with him and ask him when he was ready to sell it.”

Brian Belcher told how at the time, he wasn’t entirely serious. “It just kind of [became] a joke.
Every time I’d see him, I would ask him if he was ready to sell it, and he’d say no. I’ll never sell it.”

However, the opportunity for him and Brooke Belcher eventually arrived. “July of 23, we were on vacation, and he sent me a text, he says, I’m ready. We’re both like, oh no. We’re not ready.”

Brooke Belcher told how they had renovated houses, a skill they ended up employing. “We enjoy renovations.

Brian Belcher emphasized their desire to get it right. “We didn’t want to just come in and paint and clean it and just start. We wanted to start over and make it something nice for people in town to come to and feel like they’re at a nice restaurant.”

He stated that when they first began renovations, the stain glass above the entrance was covered up, and plaster covered the bricks. Now the stain glass is on display, and the brickwork is exposed.

Brian emphasized dedication to their community as the motivation for their efforts. He shared a reaction to their work he had received. “One of my automotive customers, he said. . .well that’s a little nice for Ellaville, it’n it? I was like, no, it’s perfect for Ellaville.”

Brian Belcher told the inspiration for the name. “Anytime I run into anybody, I tell them my name, Brain Belcher, or Brooke Belcher, and the first thing they say are you related to those people in Americus, the Belchers of Americus? No, we’re the Ellaville Belchers.”

Brooke Belcher told how telling everyone they were the Ellaville Belchers made them decide to put a “bel” on the end of Pizzeria’s name, giving them the name Ellabel.

Ellabel’s hours at Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.