WRITTEN BY JEN LYNDS
Stepping into Market Pizza in downtown Houlton is an experience that greets all the senses.
The warm, savory aroma of melting cheese, pepperoni, and tangy barbecue sauce fills the air, luring visitors inside the small but inviting space.
Cozy booths line walls beneath striking black-and-white photographs that capture Houlton’s storied past, while music from WHOU 100.1 FM radio drifts softly above the hum of friendly conversation.
Regular patrons ease themselves into the booths as the general manager, Jamie Cianci, slips their orders in front of them.
“We have regulars, and they sit in the same places, and I know their orders by heart now,” she said. “I might not know their names, but I know their orders.”
That sense of cohesion is what owner Fred Grant envisioned when he opened the business in August of 2021. Grant, who also owns Northern Maine Media, Inc./WHOU 100.1 FM radio and The Temple Theatre cinema, has found creative ways to connect his businesses. He plays the radio station over his restaurant’s speakers and delivers pizza slices and chicken bites to theater patrons during shows.
Grant explained that the idea for Market Pizza germinated during a discussion with his family about the fantastic pizza he ate while growing up in Houlton. Grant explored opening a space 11 years ago, but realized he didn’t have time.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, things changed.
“We realized no one was going to come save us and open a pizza place,” he said. “Then, this space opened up. We decided to make the dream a reality.”
The key to the restaurant’s success, Grant explained, is making pizzas with simple ingredients. The sauce and dough have few components. There are no fillers in the cheese. The comforting space is also crucial, he added, and the tight space “feels almost like a neighborhood pub.”
“Consistency is also critical,” Cianci said. “We want everyone to receive the same delicious product every time they order.”
Eleven employees keep the bustling restaurant running, serving pies with toppings from pepperoni to potato. Chefs layer garlic mashed potatoes on the crust, top the potato pizza with cheese and bacon, then drizzle it with sour cream and fresh scallions. It remains the restaurant’s most popular pizza.
Across the street, Grant has revitalized the 106-year-old Temple Theatre, which he purchased in June 2023. The theater opened in 1919, and is the oldest, continuously operated theater in Maine.
Grant and venue manager Jason Howe have transformed the cinema with new projection and sound systems. They updated lighting, countertops, and flooring. They also expanded the concession area, clearing the way for a broader liquor license that allows beer, wine, and spirits at special events.
Grant envisions the Temple Theatre as more than just a place to watch movies. He sees it as a multi-use gathering space. Howe added that plans are in motion for live performances and themed game nights, including nostalgic “Let’s Make a Deal” evenings.
While Howe admits the theater business operates differently from Market Pizza, he said the two share a similar spirit. He noted that the restaurant centers on recapturing the Houlton of the past, while the theater focuses on creating memories and rekindling nostalgia.
“There are people in this town who remember seeing a John Wayne movie at our theater,” Howe said, smiling. “Or they remember the first movie they saw, and now they are bringing their child to see their first movie. The Temple Theatre is a little gem in our community.”
