If you’ve ever found yourself looking late-night pizza in Grand Rapids, you’ve probably heard of Topper’s Pizza on Wealthy Street. What you might not know is that this late-night favorite has gone through a remarkable transformation. Under new ownership, it’s bounced back from last place in the national Topper’s franchise rankings to become a thriving, local hotspot.
When Eric Arlt took the helm in 2021, the pizzeria was struggling—not just with low sales, but with a reputation for poor quality. “The previous owner was kicked out by corporate,” says Arlt, who has local ties in Grand Rapids. “We had a lot of work to do.”
The first order of business? A full reset. Arlt shut the restaurant down for a week to do a complete overhaul on the entire operation. They even gave away free pizza to change people’s perceptions. “We wanted to show that we could do better,” Arlt says.
Fast forward to today, and the restaurant is now raking in $1.3 million annually, fueled by a loyal crowd that craves late-night bites. While it’s always been known for its signature Topperstix, wings, and pizza, the restaurant’s biggest recent addition is its pan pizza—a crispy, caramelized, cheese-covered delight that’s perfect for warming up on a cold winter night.
New as of October 2024, the pan pizza is the perfect comfort food for anyone who doesn’t want to leave the house in the winter chill. With a crunchy, golden crust and Wisconsin cheese on top, it’s the ideal dish for delivery or takeout—especially when you don’t want to trudge through snow to grab a slice. And thanks to the new NASH platform, customers can now choose the fastest delivery driver from services like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and GrubHub.
“We get most of our business between midnight and 3 a.m.,” says Nick VanderMolen, a longtime employee. “People don’t want to go out in the cold, and we’re here to fill that gap.”
In addition to its new pan pizza, Topper’s now offers a range of vegan and vegetarian options, including vegan buffalo chicken pizza, cauliflower-crust vegan pesto margherita, and plant-based wings.
The Wealthy Street location is the only Topper’s in Michigan, making it a true one-of-a-kind spot for pizza lovers—and a prime destination for cozy, takeout-friendly winter nights.
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