When Cesar and Adelmira Salazar opened the doors to Cira’s Pizza almost a year ago, it was the beginning of an adventure for the couple and their family. They had never owned a restaurant before, but it had been a dream of theirs, and they are excited to see it flourish.

Ana Salazar, their daughter and a cashier, said her parents said they could not say no when the chance to open a restaurant presented itself.

“They always like to say yes to good opportunities and set a good example for us about what it takes to manage a business,” she said.

The location had been a pizza place previously, and the existing ovens plus a family chef with a lifetime of experience with pizza inspired the couple to continue in the same vein. Popular dishes include the Meat Amanti specialty pizza as well as the homemade lasagna.

In the beginning, Adelmira said she worried about how the restaurant would do or whether people would like the pizza. She said sticking together as a family helped them stay positive, not to mention the community’s support and positive reactions.

“Looking at clients enjoying the pizza or seeing their reaction when they open the pizza box is the best part about all of this,” Adelmira said. “It lets me know that I’m doing something good and all the work is worth it.”

Cira’s has been the realization of a more than just a dream for their family. The restaurant is named after Cesar’s mother, a woman who had dreamed of owning and running her own restaurant but died in 2012, before that dream was fulfilled. Cira had been a cook in Mexico, famous for her calzone-style quesadillas. The restaurant, as well as the calzone section of the menu, are dedicated to her.

Looking toward the future of Cira’s Pizza, they said they want to expand to more locations.

“The dream now is to grow, let more people try our pizza,” Adelmira said. “People who come here now always tell us they are recommending us, so we just want to introduce more people to Cira’s.”

 

Cira’s Pizza
15825 Hope Village Road, Friendswood
832-569-5138
https://ciraspizza.com/
Hours: Mon.-Wed. 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Thu.-Sat. 10 a.m.-10 p.m., closed Sun.