Bridgeport's Main Street Seeing Restaurant Upgrade as BHS Grad Continues Business Portfolio Growth
By Jeff Toquinto on October 28, 2024
Back in January of 2022, Bridgeport’s Main Street corridor added to an already nice lineup of restaurants with the opening of East of Chicago Pizza.
Bridgeport High School alum Jeffrey Chalfant, who at the time had already opened the national chain’s first location in Shinnston a few years earlier, found a home for the second site in the former MPB Print & Sign Super Store. It is the building sitting across from the Benedum Civic Center that was also the former home to the Bridgeport Dairy King and Bridgeport Dairy Queen.
Now, it appears that things are going well enough that an expansion will soon be taking place. Last Monday, Oct. 21, the Bridgeport Development Authority talked about what Chalfant is doing and why contractors have been seen in the area.
“East of Chicago Pizza is doing a small addition to the side of the building,” Community Development Director Andrea Kerr told the crowd that was gathered. “They are currently a takeout and delivery business, and this is going to allow for customers to come in and eat at the
location.”
location.”
The addition will be a small one. Kerr estimated it will sit up to 15 people and the new part of the building will be in the parking lot to the right of the structure. There is plenty of parking in the city parking lot to the left for those who may be concerned.
The parking where the addition is going only accommodated three spots, one of which was tight. Now, there will be two.
The building permit for the West Main Street business is listed as an investment of $30,000. The contractor for the project is White Lightning.
Chalfant, a 2018 graduate of Bridgeport High School, currently has three East of Chicago Pizza businesses in Harrison County. Along with the Shinnston and Bridgeport sites, he recently opened a location in Salem.
So why the addition?
“The main reason is that customers have asked for it and heavily in the last few months where it is almost daily,” said Chalfant. “There was a Sunday recently where a family of six came in but needed a place to dine so they came and walked out. You hate it for them, and you hate to see business walk out. Ultimately, you do this to accommodate the customer.”
Chalfant said the Bridgeport site is “doing well.” He also added that the dining room hours will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with carryout staying from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“Our plan is to have it open for business on Light Up Night,” said Chalfant.
There is still delivery service as well. Delivery is also offered through DoorDash.
Editor's Note: Photos show concrete being poured earlier this month for the addition.
