Brandon Bourbon & Beer Club

UPDATE: August 11th, 2008 — I just received an email from Mr. Chris Sartin who owns Soulshine Pizza. I gather he just came across this post and took the time to send a thoughtful apology for the treatment I received at his restaurant. I think it’s commendable of him and so I’ve decided to give Soulshine a second chance. I’ll drop a review as soon as I get over that way.

So, if you’re reading this post for the first time be aware that Soulshine seems to be owned by a pretty stand-up guy. Thanks, Chris.

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My wife and I experienced some terrible customer service at the Soulshine Pizza Factory in Brandon, Mississippi. We went in on Saturday looking for some tasty pizza, and we’d never been there. The word on the street is that it’s supposed to be good. While waiting (a really long time) I picked up a paper copy of the menu to read as I couldn’t see the tiny chalk menu on the wall behind the counter (important note: I’m legally blind). Well, when the pizza guy finally comes up the first thing he says is, “Hey, are you blind or something?” followed by an aping of how close I had to hold the menu to read. “Yes,” I answered, “actually I am.” A reasonable person would have realized their mistake at this point. Not our pizza guy. “Boy, I sure hope you don’t drive! Let me know when you’re leaving so I can make sure it’s safe!”

I’m still trying to compute all this when my wife says, “on second thought, let’s just not eat here.” Not half a step out the door, however, she decides she’s really pissed. Marching back in she calmly asks to speak with a manager. Turns out our pizza guy is the manager. She explains to him that making fun of someone’s physical handicap is one of the single most offensive things one can do and that he should be ashamed of himself. She does a pretty good job. Doesn’t get too angry or anything because people don’t listen to really angry people.

“I was just making a friendly joke,” replies the manager of Soulshine Pizza in Brandon, Mississippi. “That’s how we do things around here.”

You read that right. Not “I’m sorry,” or “That was insensitive of me,” or “Oh I didn’t realize you were REALLY blind because I would have really been a jerk to talk that way if I’d thought you were really blind.” Nope, our pizza guy was just making a friendly joke because that’s how they do things at the Soulshine Pizza Factory in Brandon, Mississippi.

So, yeah. If you want great pizza in the Jackson area you could do a lot better than the Soulshine Pizza Factory in Brandon, Mississippi. The manager there appears to be a first-class dick.

That location again is…
Soulshine Pizza Factory
1139 Old Fannon Road #C (Spann Drive)
Brandon, MS 39047
601.919.2000

P.S. Not to be accused of using the BBBC blog for my own personal agenda, we decided instead to go to the Mellow Mushroom by Dogwood. The Abita Amber I had was so straight-from-the-tap cold that there was a delicate film of ice on top. Good beer, good pizza, great service.