PIZZA

Something for Everybody at Soulshine

By Pam Windsor
 

Whether you’re heading to Soulshine Pizza in Franklin for lunch, dinner, or happy hour, there’s a strong chance you’ll run into owners Jesse Zane and Angela Lathrop. Since acquiring the franchise a little over a year ago, they've worked virtually non-stop to transform this restaurant, already renowned for its exceptional food, into a popular gathering spot offering much more. 

“My initial intention when I began looking at opening a business was to open a music venue and a nightclub because that’s my background,” Zane explains. “And I looked at so many different businesses that were up for sale throughout the area, and then we stumbled upon this one.”

Soulshine Pizza is a franchise based out of Flowood, Mississippi, with a varied menu that offers gourmet pizzas, calzones, oven-baked sandwiches, spaghetti and meatballs, tamales, beans and rice, and savory salads. When Zane and Lathrop saw the location in Berry Farms up for sale, they realized it offered so much potential.

“We just saw such an opportunity here,” says Lathrop, “to add a full bar, bring in live entertainment, spruce up the décor, and really focus on customer service.” 

They immediately began talking to customers about what they liked about the restaurant and what they felt might be missing. They received a lot of feedback from people who mentioned how much they'd like a neighborhood spot where they could come together for happy hour. As a result, it became a top priority.

“We broadened the wine selection and brought in a full liquor bar,” Zane says. “So, we have some high-end craft cocktails, 16 bar taps for keg beer, and a significant wine list. And as we expanded the bar, we didn’t want the kind of bar where people are drunk, hanging out, getting loud, and all of that. Our restaurant is family-oriented, so it’s a nice place to come for a happy hour cocktail.”

They also wanted to add various types of entertainment, ensuring it was suitable for all ages.

“For example, on Thursday, we stay open late for Karaoke,” says Zane. “Now, a lot of times it starts out with kids getting up and singing which is fantastic. Then, around 9 or 9:30, as they start to make their way out, we have a group of regulars that are here, often until 11 or midnight. And they just hang out and sing. It’s a small, but mighty crowd.”

Other nights are reserved for other events.

"We do songwriters' nights on Monday night, which is a really cool thing here in Franklin because there's so much talent," Lathrop says. "We've got trivia on Wednesday, Karaoke on Thursday, then live music on Friday and Saturday.”

And, of course, those events are all centered around Soulshine’s expansive menu. While the pizza gets top billing, there are a variety of items on the menu such as calzones, spaghetti and meatballs, oven-baked sandwiches, tamales, red beans and rice, savory salads, and much more. As far as the pizza goes, it's top-notch.

“We make our own crust every day, we prep fresh ingredients every day,” says Lathrop.

The list of pizza options seems almost endless, with names like Create-Your-Own, the Carnivore, the Boss Hawg, the Jacksonian, or the Holland Spice. That one, in particular, just so happens to be created by Chase Holland, the General Manager at the Soulshine in Berry Farms.

“It’s got hot honey, pepperoni, jalapenos, pineapple, and is so good,” Lathrop says, describing the Holland Spice. “The flavor is incredible with that hot honey on it.”

Between the food, entertainment, atmosphere, and vibe, Zane and Lathrop have been successful in turning their restaurant into a community hotspot, even as they continue looking for new ways to make it even better. 

He says the feedback from their customers, so many of whom he and Lathrop now call friends, has been amazing. 

“The fact that it keeps growing, the numbers, the crowds, the positive responses by so many people, makes it all worthwhile.”