Mike Porreca, managing partner of Mars Pizza, poses outside the new location of Mars Pizza on Grand Avenue in Mars on Thursday, June 5, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Morgan Phillips
Mars Pizza is on the move, with hopes to offer more food options, while also helping spur growth within the community.
Managing partner Mike Porreca said the businesses’ new location at 129 Grand Ave., the former Rite Aid building in Mars, is now open.
The move will more than triple its space, allowing for more storage of food items, which in turn will allow the business to now offer more than two dozen gourmet pizzas, such as its pot roast pizza among others.
“They are what we consider somewhat unusual, but really delicious pizzas,” Porreca said. “Hand shredded pot roast and we make our own gravy. It sounds weird, but it’s really good.”
Another example of Porreca’s new gourmet pizzas includes a pierogi pizza with mashed potatoes, caramelized onions, white garlic sauce and cheddar cheese.
Mike Porreca, managing partner of Mars Pizza, demonstrates the pizza oven installed at its new location on Grand Avenue in Mars on Thursday, June 5, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Morgan Phillips
Porreca, who purchased Mars Pizza in December 2023, said the new location will have about 3,500 square feet of space, as it encompasses three buildings which were eventually connected from renovations previous owners implemented.
“When we purchased Mars Pizza our whole goal was to grow it, because Mars is a great community and has a lot of potential,” Porreca said. “We were really limited on how much space we had. Plus it wasn’t really an attractive environment for customers. When we found this place, we had some high hopes for what we could turn it into.”
The renovation of the former Rite Aid building has been about 15 months in the making, and Porreca and his team are “racing” against the clock to have the new location up and running for the Mars New Year festivities this weekend.
“Mars has a really unique history,” Porreca said. “There are some people who have grown up there, went to school there and have supported the community. There are quite a few people moving into the area and it’s expanding so much. Even with that, Mars still has that small town vibe to it. That charm and main street is a step back in time without looking too old.”
Mike Porreca, managing partner of Mars Pizza, peels the paper off the door at the new location of Mars Pizza on Grand Avenue in Mars on Thursday, June 5, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Morgan Phillips
Mike Porreca, managing partner of Mars Pizza, peels the paper off the door at the new location of Mars Pizza on Grand Avenue in Mars on Thursday, June 5, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Morgan Phillips
Mike Porreca, managing partner of Mars Pizza, peels the paper off the door at the new location of Mars Pizza on Grand Avenue in Mars on Thursday, June 5, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Morgan Phillips
Mike Porreca, managing partner of Mars Pizza, poses outside the new location of Mars Pizza on Grand Avenue in Mars on Thursday, June 5, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Morgan Phillips
Mike Porreca, managing partner of Mars Pizza, demonstrates the pizza oven installed at the new location of Mars Pizza on Grand Avenue in Mars on Thursday, June 5, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Morgan Phillips
