03/04/2026
Hey South County—Erich here.
Well… here we go.
If you’ve lived around South Lincoln County long enough, you know how it goes—when things slow down just a little, the mind starts wandering. For me, that “boredom” usually turns into something a little ambitious… maybe a little expensive… but hopefully something that feeds the soul.
A little backstory for those who don’t know me that well. I’ve always loved pizza. One of my first jobs as a teenager was at At’s A Pizza in Newport. Some of you might remember it—dim lights, dark green carpet, red walls, arcade games buzzing in the corner, and some seriously good pizza. Ever since those days, I’ve had this quiet dream in the back of my mind of having a place of my own someday.
Well… here we are—almost 40 years later. It may not be a full pizza parlor (yet), but you’ve got to start somewhere.
Starting this May, I’ll be out at the Wednesday Market, serving up Bavarian-style pretzels, loaded nachos, and my original recipe pizzas. This is something I’ve been working on behind the scenes, and I’m excited (and a little nervous) to finally share it with all of you.
A lot of you know me through my work, and you know I take it seriously—probably too seriously at times. The kind of work I do means constantly thinking about how to support the crews who show up on people’s worst days, making sure they have what they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. It’s something I care deeply about, but it also means my brain doesn’t always know how to “shut off.”
This—The Hose Reel—is my way of finding that balance. Still rooted in the service I’m passionate about, but giving me a chance to create something, connect with people in a different way, and maybe slow things down just a bit.
If you’d like to check things out, you can preview the menu here:
https://the-hose-reel.square.site/
(And eventually, I’m hoping to have pre-orders available for market pickup.)
If things go well, I might even do some weekend pop-ups here and there—so keep an eye out.
South County… thank you. Truly. For the support, the friendships, and the sense of community over the last 35 years. There’s nowhere else I’d rather live, work, and be part of.
Hope to see you at the market.
– Erich
