When Paul and LeAnn Register from Kathleen decided to enter the restaurant business, their initial plan was to provide only financial support. “The vision was we would never be there,” said Paul Register. “We would come in here and see our friends and sit down and shake hands and ask about how they’re doing.”
However, the couple ended up taking full ownership of Home Slice Pizza at 717 Commerce St., which opened July 1 in downtown Perry. Matthew Howard, an experienced pizza maker who has owned restaurants in Middle Georgia, works at Home Slice Pizza and is responsible for the recipes and operations.
Home Slice Pizza offers a variety of menu items including specialty pizzas, build-your-own options baked in a brick oven, appetizers such as pepperoni rolls and garlic knots, wings, pasta dishes, salads, calzones, and more. “We’ve had a great reception from the community … We already have people who are here once or twice a week,” said LeAnn Register. She manages the restaurant full-time while Paul continues his career in medical sales.
The Registers’ seven children also help out at the restaurant. Paul Register noted that their oldest son Bryson is now interested in entrepreneurship after working at Home Slice Pizza. Their daughter Haley serves tables while attending Veritas Classical Schools. Other children contribute by assembling pizza boxes or helping with other tasks.
LeAnn Register’s sister Felicia Layfield, a retired school teacher, also works at the restaurant. Many employees are local high school students.
Active in youth sports and their church group at Second Baptist in Warner Robins, the Registers hope to use Home Slice Pizza to benefit the community. “We want this business to be more involved with somehow helping and benefiting the community as much as it benefits our pockets,” said Paul Register.
According to the owners, what sets Home Slice Pizza apart is its brick oven baking process—pizzas bake in about 20 minutes—and its use of fresh dough made daily along with smoked meats and freshly chopped vegetables for toppings. The wings are baked rather than fried.
Family favorites include pepperoni rolls described on the menu as “fresh baked dough rolled and stuffed with pepperoni and mozzarella, brushed with butter, topped with garlic salt and parmesan cheese and served with a side of marinara.” Another favorite is Cheerwine soft drink.
The restaurant aims to be a gathering place for friends and family. “If you come in here and you sit at Table 2, we’re hoping that you’ll see somebody you know at Table 6 or Table 12,” said Paul Register.
Home Slice Pizza can seat up to 84 people with tables and large booths available for groups. The owners are making adjustments to their menu by raising prices on some pizzas due to increased costs of ingredients—18-inch specialty pizzas will increase by $3 to $29.99; large build-your-own pizzas will also see price increases.
New items such as strombolis and apple sticks will be added along with expanded lunch specials: customers can choose between several pizza-salad-drink combinations ranging from $7.25–$8.25 during lunch hours (11 a.m.–2 p.m.). A Monday-Tuesday night family meal deal includes a 14-inch specialty or five-topping pizza plus sides for $24.99 (dine-in only).
Previously dominated by national chains like Domino’s or Papa Johns, Perry now has multiple locally-owned pizza spots including Ghost Runner Pizza, Amici, Trattoria di Napoli (which features a Neapolitan oven), alongside Home Slice Pizza.
“We’re all different,” said LeAnn Register regarding local competitors. “I don’t feel like we’re competing with anybody. I think we all have our own things.”
Home Slice Pizza offers dine-in service as well as takeout but does not serve alcohol; it is closed Sundays but open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m.–9 p.m., except on Labor Day when it is closed.
