Galaxy Pizza marks official ribbon cutting at Vastwood Park

Galaxy Pizza’s longtime place in Hancock County life was celebrated Tuesday, May 5, when the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce hosted an official ribbon cutting and Off the Clock event for members at the restaurant in Vastwood Park in Hawesville. The event was scheduled a couple of months after the reopening, giving chamber members and guests a chance to gather, network and see the refreshed space while the business is already up and running.

Owners Steve and Karen Robertson, a husband-and-wife team who grew up in Hancock County, have worked for months to bring back what many residents remember while adding their own ideas. They kept the familiar Star Wars artwork and galaxy-painted ceiling, including the well-known Yoda painting by Gene Thompson near the pool table, and added new booths and televisions to give the back area more of a sit-down dining atmosphere.

The dining room also features arcade games such as Skill Cut, Toy Soldier, Duck Locker, Pop-A-Shot and a bowling game, continuing the tradition of families and friends eating, playing in the arcade and watching Hornet ballgames together.

The couple returned the focus to pizza, ice cream and other longtime favorites, dropping the barbecue items added by a previous owner. The menu includes create-your-own and specialty pizzas, stromboli, bone-in and boneless chicken wings, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, smoked bologna and other sandwiches such as hot ham and cheese, grilled chicken, fried chicken, fried fish, breaded tenderloin, Philly cheesesteak and grilled cheese. They also added a gluten-free pizza crust and pizza bowls.

Ice cream is again a major draw, with hand-dipped flavors and soft-serve chocolate, vanilla and twist, plus sundaes and banana splits served from an eight-flavor-glass-front display built into the front counter. An assortment of candy toppings is also available to choose from.

Galaxy’s setting at Vastwood Park continues to make it a convenient stop for people fishing, walking the trails, camping, swimming, visiting playgrounds and the splash pad, or attending ballgames and school activities nearby.

The Robertsons plan to resume delivery service, they said, one of the few delivery options in the county, after concentrating on dine-in and carryout during the first few months of operation. Inside, the self-serve fountain drink station, updated sound system and additional televisions are meant to create a comfortable atmosphere where customers can enjoy watching sports and spending time playing games with their children and grandchildren.

Galaxy Pizza is located at 955 Vastwood Park Road in Hawesville. The phone number is 270-922-2233. Regular hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The couple kept the existing Facebook page, now titled “Galaxy Pizza Since 1981,” where they share information about hours, future delivery plans and other updates.