Mansfield, OH – By Russ Kent,News Journal – It’s hard to judge who was happier Tuesday, the workers and owner of The Leaning Tower of Pizza or their customers.
“I’ve been waiting on them to open since the day they closed,” said Ron Bartley, 62, of Ashland. “I would call over here every once in a while, and when the phone just kept ringing I knew they weren’t open yet.”
Leaning Tower reopened Tuesday, two months after a suspected gas explosion destroyed an oven, damaged other parts of the restaurant and sent owner Greg Gemzer to the hospital with second- and third-degree burns.
While Greg Gemzer continues to recover at home, his wife, Maryjane Gemzer, will run Leaning Tower.
“It is good to be open again,” she said. “The most amazing thing about this whole experience was the support and good thoughts and prayers we received from the community.”
A sign invites customers to “Come have a blast at the Tower. It’s a gas!”
“Greg heard about (the sign) … he laughed about it,” Maryjane said. “He says he may have worded it a little different, but he likes it.”
The explosion is still being investigated. Maryjane couldn’t comment.