It’s funny how little things really matter to people.

Several months ago, a local Business — the Bethesda Pizza Parlor — was forced to close its doors when the floor of the building where it was located failed. I had been watching social media posts and developments within the village with interest, waiting to see when the shop might reopen. When it seemd the time was getting close, I asked reporter Robert DeFrank to see what he could find out.

While it turned out that I was right and the business was preparing to reopen in a different location, Robert learned that the reopening was delayed by the late delivery of some critical equipment. And so, we waited.

Then, on Monday, I happened to see a social media post that said the retaurant would be opening at 4 p.m. Robert had other appointments scheduled, so I hopped in my car, drove to Bethesda and spoke with owner Kathi Little myself. I took some photos of fresh pizzas coming out of the oven (including one of a former student of mine, Justin Blake) and headed back to my computer to write up a little story about the pizza parlor’s revival.

It probably the most popular story I have written all year.

People really and truly love the pizza, breadsticks and toasted sandwiches that they can get from their hometown pizza parlor. And I am not just talking about people in Bethesda. Belmont residents, as well as those from Centerville, Morristown, Barnesville and other parts of the surrounding area were just as excited to hear the news.

When I posted the article and photos to our website at timesleaderonline.com and to our Facebook page, it received an incredibly good reception. It was widely “liked” shared and commented upon.

Even numerous people who now live outside the area were thrilled to hear that the shop was back in business. My nephew Jim Compston, for example, commented to me that the new location doesn’t “look right,” but he assured me that he would be testing the food’s quality and flavor the next time he comes back home from Pataskala.

“Next time I’m down, best believe I’ll be the judge,” he texted me.

The pizza parlor has been around since I was a kid. My high school boyfriend was a delivery driver for the business, and my friends and I shot several games of pool and played plenty of video games there. And that’s to say nothing of how many times we enjoyed steak or Italian hoagies or shared pizzas and breadsticks from the shop.

I, for one, am just glad that there is finally a restaurant around again that will deliver to my home in Belmont. My husband, Mike, and I don’t order delivery often, but when we do it’s because we really don’t have time to cook or go to a restaurant,

So, here’s to a bright and profitable future for a hometown business that nearly everyone was happy to see return. Little told me that she did more than $800 worth of business in her first hour Monday, so it seems pretty clear that the community is behind her business.

And to anyone who is considering opening a new business in a small, local community such as Belmont, Bethesda, Neffs, Glencoe, Fairpoint, Jacobsurg, Flushing or anyplace in between, it may be well worth the risk. There are few places where you will find a more loyal customer base than right here at home.