Johnson Family of Restaurants Expands with Big Daddy’s Pizzeria in Pigeon Forge

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (April 2011) – The Johnson family of restaurants has added its eighth location at the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park with the opening of Big Daddy’s Pizzeria in Pigeon Forge.

The 294-seat restaurant also features a 3,000-square-foot arcade to create a two-component family attraction. The arcade is attached but totally separated so its guests don’t disturb the pizza-eating patrons.

Other Johnson restaurants are Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que and the Alamo Steakhouse (Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg), Mama’s Farmhouse and Mad Dog’s Creamery (Pigeon Forge) and the original Big Daddy’s Pizzaria (Sevierville).

“Pizzeoli” (pizza crafters) start each Big Daddy’s pizza with handcrafted, homemade dough that is topped with homemade sauces and fresh ingredients and then baked in a 550-degree, wood-fired brick oven.

“Big Daddy’s is so committed to freshness that there isn’t a freezer on the premises,” said Bruce Johnson, owner and founder of the restaurant group.

The menu also includes fresh salads, plus appetizers and desserts prepared in the same brick oven as the pizzas.  For instance, Big Daddy’s “S’moreza” is a fresh take on the campfire classic, s’mores.

Big Daddy’s is at 3053 Parkway between Pigeon Forge Traffic Lights 3 and 4 and next to the Willow Brook Lodge.