For Hunter and Ether McClellan, pizza is more than just food. It’s the center of their relationship. How? Well, the duo says that just about every milestone in their relationship has happened at a pizza place.

Esther began working at U.S. Pizza Company in Levy when she was 16. In 1999, she transferred to the Maumelle U.S. Pizza Co., where she met Hunter, who had worked there since he was 17. After a few months of working together, their first kiss was in the parking lot. Hunter proposed to Esther in U.S. Pizza a year later. After they both graduated from UCA—Hunter with a degree in education and Esther with a degree in exercise science—they moved to Fayetteville. At 21, Hunter was managing one of the busiest stores in the large Arkansas-based pizza company.

While the McClellans were living in Fayetteville, Hunter’s mother died after battling cancer. After some serious consideration and conversations with the chain’s owners, Hunter and Esther used the money Hunter’s mother left them to buy the first-ever franchised U.S. Pizza restaurant, and a building in downtown Conway.

“U.S. Pizza is very personal to us. It’s not just a business we run, it is our kids’ futures and it really is a testament to my mother,” Hunter said. Esther added, “Hunter’s dad owned a business, and Hunter always wanted to run his own business. He got that from his parents. Everything big in our lives has happened in a U.S. Pizza. When I found out I was pregnant with our first baby, I took a cookie cake to the restaurant to tell Hunter while he was working.”

Three kids and 16 years later, the McClellans are firmly rooted in the Conway community. “When customers come in, we’re not just feeding them, we’re giving them a memory. U.S. Pizza has been around since 1972, so a lot of times, they’ll come in telling stories to their kids about when they ate at a U.S. Pizza when they were kids,” Esther said.

With artwork by Hunter’s brother hanging on the walls, sports on every TV, a laundry line of kid’s coloring sheets hanging over the front desk, there is a palpable family atmosphere. The two oldest McClellan kids, Cooper (9) and Parker (6), often “work” as hosts and dishwashers at the restaurant. Their 6-month-old sister Harper often naps in her baby carrier or is passed around by servers and customers alike, oohing and ahhing over her.

“The best thing about Conway, to us, is the people. When we did the celebrity fundraiser for the American Cancer society, so many of our volunteer workers were our regular customers. Some people would just drive by and hand us donations. We raised over $23,000 that day. Our goal was $10,000,” Esther said. “Esther has ‘gone to jail’ for the Muscular Dystrophy fundraiser, we’ve worked with the March of Dimes, the Boys & Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, baseball teams, you name it. We have fundraisers every Thursday night, almost. The country may be in a recession, but everybody in this town comes together to help each other,” Hunter said. Esther added, “We love being a part of the downtown community, and the city of Conway. We’re raising our kids to appreciate hard work, and to know what it means to help your neighbors and be a part of something bigger than yourself.”

Train Open House on Father's Day

In celebration of Father's Day, CAMRC will hold a Train Open House event on Saturday, June 16 at the McGee Center (3800 College Ave.) from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dads and granddads will remember the model trains from their boyhood, including trains by Lionel, Marx, and American Flyer. Kids will have hands-on fun as Junior Engineers running trains featuring Thomas the Tank Engine and friends. Hobby-related door prizes and how-to clinics will be presented for families interested in getting involved with the "world's greatest hobby."

Pancake Breakfast Slated for June 24

Stoby’s restaurant (corner of Donaghey & Robinson) will host one of their famous pancake breakfast fundraisers, benefitting the Conway Symphony Orchestra, on Sunday, June 24 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. All of the proceeds will support the activities of the CSO, which feature many children- and family-oriented programs throughout the year.