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This Truck Is Going After Your Taste Buds

Favazza is putting his own spin on something we can all get behind: Pizza

Here’s why a G.Faz slice just might be “The best pizza you’ve had in a long time.”

By Courtney Conover in cash. Favazza offered to pay the
Slice by slice, George Favazza, a truck builder as the truck was being
life-long resident of Wayne, is wow- built. The builder obliged, and the
ing palates all over Metro Detroit. truck was built in nine months.
With a delectable menu of pies There was just one hiccup: After
with names like Fazzy Cheese Pizza, Favazza obtained his food license
Pepper-Faz-a-Ronni!, Meat-Z-Pizza, and worked a few events in the truck,
Super-Z, and Faz-A-Laua, it’s quite he realized the truck simply wasn’t
easy to see why Favazza’s following is big enough.
growing. And if you haven’t experi- Favazza then sold the truck and
enced the flavor for yourself just yet, bought the one he is using today.
it’s likely you’ve seen Favazza—and And the G.Faz pizza truck that
his pizza truck—in action on South has been making its way through
Wayne Road. and around these parts is giving
Favazza, 55, took quite the inter- local pizza connoisseurs something
esting route to get there. to write home about.
The story of how G.Faz Pizza got In addition to the pizzas men-
its unofficial start dates back more tioned above, patrons will also find
than thirty years—1988, to be exact. breadsticks, garlic cheese bread,
That’s when a 17-year-old long- and another pizza specialty—the
haired Favazza, who was rocking out chicken bacon ranch—on the menu.
in a band, also worked as a driver The latter pizza features a combina-
for Domino’s Pizza along with his tion of ranch sauce, BBQ sauce, and
bandmates. marinated chicken, which is sure to
But the hair, ultimately, proved to be a real crowd-pleaser.
be a sticking point. Patrons should also stay tuned
“They [management] wanted us to for the G.Faz BLT pizza, which is
cut our hair,” remembers Favazza. slated to arrive shortly.
“We ended up trying to do everything “I make things old school,” says
we could…put it under our hair net, Favazza, a graduate of Wayne Memo-
but they would not let us work there rial High School’s class of 1984, in
because of our hair.” reference to what he brings to the
The remedy? They quit. George Favazza puts a spin on making pizza in his food truck. table that other brands don’t. “I
Technically, they were fired. shred my own cheese, make my own
Favazza and his crew—who for 17 years total, eight of them full- Pizza Hut had helped him hone his dough, and my sauce is unique. I’m
wholeheartedly believed that they time. skills in more ways than one: A few always in search of the perfect
would one day make a living with But in 2012, Favazza took his years after Favazza started working meat—and the best flavor.”
their band—refused to cut their hair, pizza prowess to a whole new level. there, the manager found himself in The G.Faz flavor is the main
so Domino’s refused to put Favazza Favazza started experimenting need of someone to cut the establish- draw, for sure, but Favazza still has
and his friends on the schedule. with making dough and concocting ment’s lawn. excellent customer service front and
But, as the saying goes, When one his own sauce, a move which he says Favazza stepped right on up. center on the menu, too.
door closes, another one opens. was prompted—at least in part—by And he didn’t stop there: Favazza “I want customers to have a quick,
And in this case, the new door his Italian heritage. Favazza didn’t went on to launch his own lawn care great experience,” he says.
was attached to a different pizza de- know where his ingenuity would company, too, which he continued to This whole food truck experience
livery vehicle: One that belonged to lead, but he was certainly open to the maintain while working at Pizza Hut. has been a win-win for Favazza: Not
Pizza Hut, which was up-and-coming possibilities. Translation: The prospect of ma- only is he doing what he loves, he’s
at that point. He estimated that he would need neuvering a long, back-heavy vehi- also doing it with the people he loves.
“The manager from Pizza Hut somewhere in the ballpark of cle—i.e., a food truck—wasn’t at all Says Favazza, “It’s definitely been
[here in Wayne] had heard that we $150,000 in seed money to launch a intimidating to him. a surprise bonus working with fam-
were great drivers,” recalls Favazza. restaurant, but that didn’t seem The more Favazza thought about ily members…it’s been a riot! I didn’t
“He actually tracked us down while likely. He then toyed with the idea of it, owning and operating a food truck expect it to be fun as well as work.”
we were on a delivery for Hungry launching his own line of take-and- would be right up his alley. Business aside, Favazza and his
Howie’s Pizza at the time.” bake pizzas that patrons could buy So Favazza started searching for wife of 33 years are the parents of
Favazza eventually left Hungry and then bake at home. food trucks, and eventually ran into three adult children who have long
Howie’s and landed at Pizza Hut, “But then I thought, A food truck someone who builds them. But there since flown the coop. Favazza is a fan
where he was offered more money. would be awesome,” says Favazza. was one stipulation: Favazza’s wife,
He ended up being employed there After all, Favazza’s tenure with Sue, wanted him to pay for the truck See PIZZA, page 6

The Wayne Dispatch · May 2022 · 3