BY MATT MACKINDER
Clarkston News Editor

Buddy’s Pizza officially opened its new Clarkston carryout restaurant, located at 5530 Sashabaw Road, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony this past Monday, April 18.
For the new location, Buddy’s has partnered with Lighthouse of Oakland County and is donating all opening-day sales to the nonprofit organization.
The Clarkston restaurant will be the 21st Buddy’s Pizza location to open.
The updated design concept features a layout specifically engineered for the carryout experience, including a grab-and-go station for online orders and a redesigned kitchen conducive for carryout orders.
The new model aims to increase service speeds and enhance the overall guest experience, while still including classic features that make a visit to Buddy’s Pizza special – such as decor elements that incorporate the local community of Clarkston.
The Clarkston restaurant offers a special carryout-only menu, with customer favorites including the authentic original Detroit-style pizza, its celebrated antipasto salad, Buddy Bread, pasta, meatballs, and more.
The restaurant will be open seven days a week, including 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
“For more than 75 years, Michiganders have made lasting memories while enjoying the original Detroit-style pizza, and we love sharing our authentic Detroit roots with the communities we join,” said Buddy’s Pizza Chief Brand Officer Wes Pikula. “We’re thrilled to become part of the Clarkston community and to partner with an organization like Lighthouse who is making such an incredible impact in Oakland County.”
The focus of Lighthouse is to solve poverty and homelessness in Oakland County by building affordable housing in local communities and providing people with the resources, relationships and skills they need to better themselves.
“Lighthouse is excited to welcome Buddy’s Pizza to Clarkston,” said Emily Wood, fund development manager at Lighthouse. “Through our partnership, Buddy’s Pizza will help serve our community as a beacon of hope for those in need. We are truly grateful for Buddy’s support and look forward to working with them going forward.”
Lighthouse was formed in 2019 when South Oakland Shelter and Lighthouse MI merged to provide a stronger response to poverty in the local community.
Lighthouse provides direct services (food, shelter, rental/utility and other financial assistance, clothing, crisis referrals) and stability and housing programs that develop and support self-sufficiency.
Their vision is to solve the problems of poverty and homelessness by building affordable housing in local communities and by providing people with the resources, relationships, and skills they need to better themselves.
Buddy’s is also partnering with the Clarkston Community Schools Therapy Dog Program to join their initiative of supporting students’ social, emotional, learning and behavioral needs. Buddy’s Pizza will match all donation sales received through the Buddy Bones program to benefit all Clarkston Community Schools.

PHOTO: Brent Medaris, Buddy’s Pizza area manager, cuts the ceremonial ribbon on Monday, April 18, to officially open the new restaurant location in Clarkston at 5530 Sashabaw Road. Photo by Matt Mackinder