Childhood friends open ‘fresh and local’ pizzeria in their hometown of Mooresville
Two 25-year-old Mooresville natives and pals since childhood opened Mamma Ramona’s Pizzeria in January in the Mill One mixed-use community in downtown Mooresville.
Owner Tyler Cherry and general manager Nate Pillow debuted their pizzeria last year in South End Eats, the collection of restaurants at 500 W. Summit Ave. in Charlotte’s South End neighborhood.
After eight months, they decided to move the restaurant to their hometown, Pillow told CharlotteFive at their new location on North Church Street in Mooresville.
Cherry and Pillow met as boys at Shepherd Elementary School in Mooresville and later attended Lakeshore Elementary School in Mooresville and South Iredell High School in Troutman.
As South Iredell band members, they were feet from the roof collapse at North Iredell High in 2015 during a regional band competition. Eighteen of their band mates were hospitalized, The Charlotte Observer reported at the time.
“We both live here, were born and raised here and wanted to provide something that was part of the community,” Pillow said about their new venture, moments before a noon rush of walk-ins and online orders.
Cherry bought the rights to the name of the former Mamma Ramona’s Pizzeria in Ramona, California, whose owner he knew.
The Mooresville menu is one that he and Pillow created, however.
The pair make pizza dough daily, Pillow said. “And every day, we get the freshest local ingredients that we can,” he said.
Pillow had seven years in the pizza industry before Mamma Ramona’s Pizzeria.
So far, Mamma Ramona’s most popular item is the Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza ($17 for a 14-inch).
Also popular is the Caprese salad, with spring mix lettuce, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil and tomatoes, served with a balsamic vinaigrette ($12), Pillow said.
Most customers order eight-inch personal-size varieties, Pillow said. They range in price from the $7.99 cheese pizza to the $10.99 The Works, which includes pepperoni, Italian sausage, green peppers, onions, black olives and mushrooms.
“We always wanted something in Mooresville,” Cherry said. “And downtown is one of the best, fastest-growing areas of our fast-growing town.”
Mooresville has experienced decades of rapid population growth — from 8,600 residents to nearly 60,000 since 1980.
Mamma Ramona’s Pizzeria
Location: 201 N. Church St., Mooresville NC 28115.
Cuisine: Italian, pizza
Facebook: mammaramonaspizza
This story was originally published February 18, 2025 at 6:00 AM.