LANCASTER, Ohio — In an era where national chains dominate much of the restaurant landscape, one Lancaster pizza shop has developed a remarkably loyal following by keeping things local, simple and distinctly its own.
Sugar Bears Pizzeria, located at 147 Cedar Hill Road in Lancaster, is a family-run pizza shop known especially for its thin crust and unusually sweet pizza sauce — a combination that customers either discover for the first time or, judging by reviews, keep coming back for years later.
The business is operated by sisters Lisa and Connie Beatty, and its name reportedly comes from their brother’s nickname, “Sugar Bear.” The family has more than five decades of combined experience in the local pizza business, according to information available about the restaurant.
But the strongest advertisement for Sugar Bears may be its customers.
One of our writers had the opportunity to visit the establishment and reported back the pizza did not disappoint and the deliciousness of the pizza made them far exceed their stomach capacity.
Recent Google reviews repeatedly describe the restaurant as a longtime favorite. One reviewer called it his “favorite pizza” and specifically praised its thin, crispy crust and sweet sauce. Another wrote that she first tried Sugar Bears as a teenager and still considers it the best pizza she has had, highlighting both the sweet sauce and the fact that the restaurant remains locally and family owned.
Another customer returning after years away said the pizza was every bit as good as remembered, while also praising the friendly service and affordability.
The pizza itself has a distinctive appearance. Thin crusts are piled with cheese and toppings, with pepperoni curling and crisping around the edges as it cooks. Customers can also choose from specialty pizzas, while the broader menu includes familiar comfort-food offerings such as baked pasta, garlic bread, chicken, mozzarella sticks and subs.
Sugar Bears appears to operate primarily as a takeout restaurant, offering in-store pickup rather than attempting to compete with larger sit-down establishments.
Its social-media presence also reflects the restaurant’s local following. The Sugar Bears Pizzeria Facebook page has accumulated roughly 2,700 followers, while its Facebook listing showed an 82% recommendation rate from 51 reviews at the time reviewed.
For many customers, though, Sugar Bears isn’t simply another place to order pizza. Reviews spanning longtime customers, returning customers and newer visitors repeatedly point to the same qualities: a recognizable sweet sauce, thin crust, reasonable prices and the familiarity of a locally owned restaurant that has remained part of the Lancaster community.
In a restaurant industry where menus, ownership and storefronts can change quickly, Sugar Bears has seemingly found success doing almost the opposite — giving customers something familiar and continuing to make it the way they remember it.
Sugar Bears Pizzeria
147 Cedar Hill Road
Lancaster, Ohio 43130
(740) 689-1717
