Mission Pizza: One Of The Last Authentic "Mom & Pop" Pub's in the East Bay

When I moved back to my hometown of Fremont CA in early 2019, I hadn’t realized just how much change had occurred in the span of twenty-five-plus years. Living just outside of the city limits for the majority of my adult life, I ventured back into Fremont only in passing through on my way to I-680 or for family gatherings at what used to be called Lake Elizabeth. 

The fields I used to ride bikes in with my siblings and neighborhood friends were now well established three-story condos and apartments or flooded streets with traffic at almost all times of the day, every day. Becoming part of the community again has really become an eye-opener to the rapid changes of this once small town where my family settled after arriving from the beautiful island of S?o Miguel, Portugal during the late 1800s as did the Willis family, which you will learn about shortly. 

But first...

Silicon Valley

Not only has it been an eye-opener rejoining my childhood community but nostalgia has also been “bitch-slapping” me at what seems like every turn, literally. As Silicon Valley began to develop and employ more personnel from all over the world, the technology industry expanded. Working in the Tech industry involves working with one's mind all day, which requires "a certain set of skills", as Liam Neeson would say. 

With that influx of diverse cultures and as families kindly join the Bay Area communities and begin to raise their own families here, I think it’s important to share some of Fremont's distant and not so distant history about our now shared community that most may not know. 

Fun Fact: Those Silicon Valley founders, who are mostly Millennials, across The Dumbarton and The San Mateo Bridges do a very good job of providing their staff with perks unimaginable to any workforce in my generation and the generations that precede mine.

Legendary Protesters

The residents of this area aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. These are generations of homesteaders, and these folks like their little community the way it is. That entire section of Fremont is an artifact. That small community brings a great afternoon of antique shopping, classic car shows and employs some of the most talented tattoo artists in the bay area. I am, of course, talking about Niles. 

Niles holds the entertainment history of Charlie Chaplin and the story of how the resident of Niles, during that time, fought to keep Hollywood from “setting up shop” permanently in their small piece of Fremont. My great-grandmother’s generation stood up to the Hollywood corporations which forced them to settle elsewhere.

Recent History and Historical Landmarks 

My parent's generation saw Baylands Raceway that resided in what is now known as Pacific Common. The Center Theatre cost seventy-five cents to watch what are now classic films when my parents were young and, Rollerworld skating rink was the place to be on the weekends when I was young, until “cruising” Fremont Blvd became “what’s up”. Good, fun times. 

At another end of Fremont, you’ll find the very sacredly held Mission San Jose Church. People from all over the bay area come to explore those cherished grounds. I can remember taking field trips to that monumental site throughout my school years in the Mission District.

Those areas are some of the "history, history" of the city. Fast forward to today and approximately one mile down from that church, on Washington Blvd, you will find Mission Pizza.   

Mission Pizza and The Willis Family 

Mission Pizza just celebrated thirty years and three generations of successful "Mom & Pop" pub-ary, if that’s even a word. If it’s not, I just invented it.

Mission Pizza brings to life a part of Fremont history that I grew up in and that I can only describe as the Urban Cowboy era, late 70’s - early ’80s when country music was music, although I’m sure the Patsy Cline country music era would disagree or "beg to differ" with me on that. 

The founder of Mission Pizza is Phil Willis. Phil has that Mickey Gilley "swag" about him that my mom used to swoon over back in the day. His business model reminds me of a smaller version of Gilley’s, without the mechanical bull and without the bar fighting. Phil’s business also maintains an atmosphere of Cheers for the entire family to enjoy.

Phil’s family history is very similar to mine. His family also arrived from the Azores in the mid-1840s with the same working-class drive for new beginnings and hopes of a prosperous future for their current and future families. 

Our families must have crossed paths somewhere in the history of Fremont, which might play a part in my interest in picking up a part-time job there. I wasn't sure of what I’d be walking into with regards to food safety standards, having come from the corporate end of the food service industry, but I was pleasantly surprised at what a “tight ship” Mission Pizza runs with the quality of their food. 

Before taking the leap as a restauranteur, Phil was a route delivery driver for Granny Goose out of Oakland. Phil has been married to Debra, a successful wife, mother of three daughters and accomplished academic, for over 50 years. Phil recently told me he recalls telling Debra, at the age of 14, that he was going to marry her someday. Phil is a man of his word, that was over 60 years ago.

The Players And The Beginning Of Mission Pizza

Phil took over what used to be called "No Name Pizza" in the ’80s and as fate would have it and after the other two potential buyers backed out, Phil’s offer to take over the existing pizza place was accepted. 

Phil and Will, Phil’s eldest daughters “BFF” throughout high school, would then embark on creating fresh pies from dough made in house with mountains of creative ingredients while naming those specialty pizzas after family members and executing product that appears to come straight out of Pizza Today Magazine. **CAUTION, this pizza is addicting. 

At any given time you will find all three generations either working the pizza ovens, behind the bar, serving the customers or singing in the band. Mission Pizza represents a historical landmark of Fremont for the past four generations of families in the entire Bay Area.

This pub is one of the last places where “everybody knows your name,'' and it is an honor to work there and be part of the community that represents my own family history.

Andrea, the baby of the Willis Family and the glue of the day to day operations, is a rocker at heart. Andrea, along with her husband Gabe, the lead singer for Beneath the Surface, a Bay Area up and coming Heavy Metal Band, work in tandem to keep Mission Pizza flowing like a well-oiled machine. 

I’ve never really been a “headbanger,” but when I heard one of Gabe’s songs the depth of his voice shook me. I’m a huge fan of his talent.

Their son, Gabe Jr, works all areas of the back of the house including the dish pit and prep. “Junior” blew my mind with his detailed knowledge of brain chemicals and how maintaining the proper balance of those endogenous chemicals is crucial to successful mental health. Junior, also shares his dad’s love of the Musical Arts.

Scientist, Musician or both? Time will tell.  

My colleagues at Mission Pizza consist of a professional chess teacher, a historian of random trivia and a couple of future innovators not to mention members of the loyal staff that have been a part of that business since its founding years. Some of the most interesting people walk the floors of this family business so developing a respectful comradery with the team and the locals has been the highlight of this job.

“NOOOOORRRMM” 

The loyal regulars consist of the electrician who is quite the animated character and makes me laugh with just his facial expressions, the project manager and product delivery driver, who are the parents of some of the staff. A retired thirty-year veteran city worker, as well as the students and staff from my old alma mater.

These are some of the most genuinely nicest people I’ve ever met.  

We see the local cal-trans worker in his “ great pumpkin” work attire, this guy is a “G”, he sits in the same spot at the bar when he comes in, he connects his headphones to his mobile device and catches up on whatever his interests are to unwind after a long hard day. When he leaves, he leaves a sip for “the homies” at the bottom of his glass. He strikes me as a man of honor and respect. On the flip side of that, I also would not want to get on his bad side.   

The young dad of a puppy is part of our regular crowd, along with the couple who also grew up in Fremont and who are raising their son in the same school system we were all raised in back in the ’80s. This past Christmas that family brought cards and movie tickets for the entire staff at Mission Pizza. This thoughtful and genuine appreciation for others and the work they do is completely void not only in the corporate workforce but in society as a whole. 

I sit on opposite ends of the political spectrum with some regulars I’ve gotten to know. We’re all aware of the differences in views but it doesn’t matter. We respect each other as human beings, and I consider them friends. We need more of this in the country, ASAP!

We also see the small business owners, the construction workers, the honorable working class and the backbone of Fremont past and present. That is what can be found within the walls of this family pub.

The Experience

Mission Pizza is a place where the local residents come to relax after a long hard day’s work. It's a place where those same locals meet up with old and new friends to discuss life’s ups and downs and bounce solutions off of each other in an effort to support their friends. 

It’s a place where locals and national sporting events are cheered on and where respectful fan rivalries join in the fun.

Phil is also the local trailblazer of 32 beers on tap and takes pride in supporting up and coming brewing companies like Revision Brewing Company out of Sparks Nevada and Russian River Brewing Company out of Santa Rosa, CA. 

Small businesses supporting other small businesses. That is how you sustain and create generational wealth for “the little guy” and their families. 

“Where You At! Not ?”

Mission Pizza brings to life the Willis family’s block of time in Fremont’s history and the continued dreams of prosperity and freedom that their family was in search of when settling in this once small town of Fremont, CA. Welcome to the journey, the experience and where you can find the best pizza in the Bay Area.