New and exciting things are happening at Mockingbird Bakery on downtown Howard Street.
Mockingbird is becoming not only an artisan bakery opening at 8 a.m. but an evening pizzeria from the hours of 4 to 9 p.m., said new general manager Keith Robertson.
"Gourmet pizza is going to be a great addition to Mockingbird … nights on Howard Street will soon take on a whole new flavor, and our whole team could not be more excited," said Steffany Ward, communications manager for Viking Hospitality Group.
Pizzas will be:
- Big Don: Spicy sausage, caramelized onions, roasted garlic, bacon, feta, sweet onion soubise
- Cheeseburger: Ground beef, caramelized onions, bacon, cheddar cheese
- Pesto Veggie: Red onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, house made pesto, goat cheese, toasted walnuts
- BBQ Chicken: Red onions, smoked chicken breast, red peppers, mozzarella, BBQ sauce
The 11-inch pizzas will cost around $8 and be available "sometime this month," Ward said.
The Donald Dog, which can be topped with chili-cheese, and the Benji Burger, which comes with truffled French fries, will carry over from the lunch menu, she said. Lazy Magnolia microbrews and a selection of imported beer will also be offered. The overall goal of Mockingbird is to "make people happy," Robertson said. That's his philosophy for restaurant management.
Robertson fell in love with the restaurant business during college while working at Woody's restaurant in Columbus. He started bartending and ended up managing a Woody's in Tupelo.
A Jackson area native, Robertson later owned Curos restaurant in Flowood but sold it and got out of the restaurant business for awhile.
While living in Brandon, he worked for a Nissan supplier for a couple years and then as a salesperson for an industrial chemical supplier.
He lived in Coila while working in sales and began missing the excitement of restaurant life. He took advantage of his flexible schedule and worked part-time for Giardina's in Greenwood.
Soon after Robertson and his family had picked up and moved to Brandon again, due to a large chemical account in that area, he received a call from Viking Hospitality Group President, Carol Puckett.
Puckett asked him to come back and manage Mockingbird Bakery and Delta Fresh Market and Deli.
In February, Robertson, his wife Tanya, and four children moved to Greenwood.
"We knew Keith through his work at Giardina's. He had been part-time in addition to his full-time job when he was in town," Puckett said.
"Keith is the consummate hospitality professional. He is a great guy and well-suited to the business. He loves the pace and the customers. He is really driven by a deep desire to please our customers, and I think that really shows in his work," Puckett said.
Robertson said he is here to make customers happy.
"My strong points would be customer service," Robertson said. "Great service and great food - we have to have both," he said.
Robertson said hospitality is making someone feel at home when they walk in the door.
"If someone comes in and has a bad experience, that is a very big deal to me," he said.
The restaurant will attract all ages, he said. "Teenagers need a place to go, a clean, safe environment. That's important to me."
