Little Caesars open for business in Bremerton.

It’s been a long time coming for some pizza lovers.

“They’re finally open,” one customer said Monday. “I haven’t had one in eight months.”

Little Caesars Pizza opened July 31 on Callow Avenue across from Safeway in Bremerton.

Store manager Peter Marthedal said the franchise had a Kitsap County location years ago, but loyal customers wanted the pizza shop to return.

“I saw great potential up here in Bremerton because the people were so excited,” he said. “We just felt this was a good place to open up.”

Marthedal moved to Washington from Fresno, Calif. to open and manage the Bremerton store.

“It just kind of came up as an opportunity and I thought it’d be a neat place to work,” he said.

Marthedal said Bremerton is a great spot for Little Caesars and people drive from all over the peninsula to get the pizza.

“We decided to park here in Bremerton because it’s a good midway point,” he said. “People drive from everywhere to come here.”

Little Caesars sells pizza, wings, soda and its signature Crazy Bread.

“We keep it pretty basic and simple,” Marthedal said.

The shop sells HOT-N-READY pizzas, which are large 14-inch pepperoni, sausage or cheese pizzas for just $5. The pizzas are already made, so customers do not have to wait long before walking out of the door with food.

“Our goal is within 30 seconds or less,” Marthedal said. “We around the clock make pizzas so they’re fresh.”

And with pizzas at $5, Marthedal said the cheap price is just part of the reason customers love Little Caesars so much.

“It’s a combination of our great price and great product and that equals great value,” he said.

Marthedal interviewed 150 potential Little Caesars employees before narrowing it down to a staff of 35. He said the store has been very busy since it opened and the employees are working many, many hours.

“They’re all getting about as many hours as they want,” Marthedal said.

Marthedal himself hasn’t gotten much sleep since opening the Bremerton shop because customers keep him and his staff hopping all day, every day.

And with things going well after only a couple weeks in business, he said the franchise is looking to open several other locations in Kitsap County.

“We’re planning on putting at least a few more stores in the area,” Marthedal said. “We’re going to do our best to service the customers.”