NORFOLK, Va. — For a lot of people, including Norfolk native Nathan Ingram, the COVID-19 lockdown changed everything.
“I just couldn’t stand it—not being in the office and not having my co-workers and boss to bounce things off,” said Ingram.
He liked his sales job, but he’d always dreamed of owning a business one day.
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“My dad was an entrepreneur; he had Anchor Motor Sales on Military Highway, and I kind of grew up there," he said. "So I’ve always been looking for some business to start."
The idea for that business came to him four years ago while he was cooped up at home.
“I started making sourdough bread and sourdough pizza on the Big Green Egg, and they started coming out really good,” said the pizza maker.
So, he bought a food truck, and Sour Street Pizza was born, parking at the COVA Brewing Company every Thursday.
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“We had an hour-and-a-half wait at COVA Brewing on one of our first days," he shared.
With no restaurant experience, there was a lot of trial and error.
“In the beginning, the pizzas were coming out oval-shaped, and they were a little burnt.” admitted Ingram.
But it didn’t take long for his pizza with its unique, organic sourdough crust to take off.
“Being there every Thursday, we developed a following in the neighborhood; there are a lot of people we know by name and we know their order," he shared.
He soon realized he needed a bigger kitchen and more staff. True to his family roots, he opened his own pizza place on Ocean View Avenue in East Beach. And his longtime customers followed.
“We were fans of it while they were a food truck; we love that they are brick-and-mortar and within walking distance from my neighborhood. We got the white pizza. And what is this? Meatballs? It was meatballs! Really good!” said one longtime customer.
He tells me it’s not just about pizza; it’s about being part of the neighborhood he grew up in.
“I get to be a part of the community; I grew up five minutes down the street on Lake Whitehurst. East Ocean View feels like home, which is really cool,” said the Norfolk native.
Oh, and I had to ask about the name.
“Sourdough pizza, and we’re on the street; we were on the street," he laughed.
Sour Street Pizza and its owner, Nathan Ingram, are serving up a delicious, cheesy serving of American pie and positively Hampton Roads.
For more information on the restaurant, click here.
