SECOND SHOP FOR MERLIN’S

It’s Burleigh Waters’ turn to get a slice of the action from one of the Coast’s favourite pizzerias

MERLIN’S Pizza has been producing pizza saucery in Palm Beach for more than 20 years and now they’re expanding their kingdom.

The Christine Corner location lays down the drawbridge next Tuesday and for owner Scott Jelich it’s a true started-from-the-bottom success story. “I started as a pizza delivery boy 12 years ago and spent probably six to 12 months delivering pizza,” he says.

“Then I was promoted to pizza chef, which I did for a couple of years. I became a manager for four to six years and when the opportunity to invest came up I grabbed it with both hands.

“It just felt so natural to me. The previous owner always made me feel like Merlin’s was mine, even when it wasn’t.

“I just love making great food that people love. I don’t know exactly what it is. I just enjoy all of it.”

Now Scott will have twice as much to love after biding his time for years, opening at the Burleigh Waters pit stop.

“Probably for about four years we’ve been considering a second location,” he says.

“I’ve just been waiting for the perfect spot and we finally found it at Christine Corner.

“Being somewhere with traffic is ideal and a bottle shop helps too.

“But I prefer to rely on the community rather than tourists and build those relationships with regulars.

“We want people to give us a try and earn their love.”

Locals will have the perfect opportunity to see if Merlin’s is worthy of their hearts and stomachs at the grand opening next week, and grab a cheeky snap with a Titans player while they’re at it.

“We’re doing half-price pizzas next Tuesday, August 1, and we’ve got two Titans players coming to hang out and take pictures – Kane Elgey and Anthony Don,” Scott says.

Kane is a regular – in the footy season he only gets the lasagne because he’s trying to be half healthy.

“Off season he gets the Dragon’s Breath ... he likes a bit of kick,” Scotty says.

Kane will be pleased to know his spicy favourite will be available at the new location as well, as Scott says, “same pizzas, same prices, same specials – just a different location.”

“Our Excalibur is our signature pizza. It’s the one that puts us on the map,” he says.

“It’s basically a super supreme, it’s got everything on it. It’s massive and weighs almost 2kg.

“Then the chicken avocado is really popular, and the Hawaiian for kids.”