Everyone’s invited Alley Cat Pizza on June 18 for a FrEE SLICE.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story had conflicting information about the date. Free Slice Day is definitely THURSDAY JUNE 18. Human error is inevitable. The good news is we are robot-free news. -Carol
MANCHESTER, NH – Through decades of change, Alley Cat Pizza has survived it all.
Tucked in a brick-front space on Chestnut Street that’s mostly kitchen, with room for a few tables and chairs – Alley Cat has for 30 years been producing some of the city’s favorite pies, thanks to generations of pizza lovers, from townies, college students, downtown workers and late-night customers who keep coming back.
On June 18, the downtown pizzeria plans to return the favor.
To celebrate their 30th anniversary, Alley Cat Pizza will host its first-ever Free Slice Day, offering a complimentary cheese slice and a 10-ounce soda to anyone who stops by between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.
“It’s a big deal for us,” said co-owner Eliot Lawrence. “I grew up on Alley Cat, as have so many dedicated customers. We wanted to do something that was going to give back to the community.”
The restaurant, located at 486 Chestnut St., has become one of Manchester’s longest-running independent eateries. While Eliot and his wife, Rylee, have been operating Alley Cat for the past six years, they are keenly aware that they are caretakers of a business that has been part of the city’s fabric for three decades.
“Thirty years is a big deal,” Rylee Lawrence said. “You see the turnover of restaurants downtown, and we have to be grateful that Manchester has kept Alley Cat around for all this time. It’s pretty special.”
Their own story is intertwined with the restaurant’s recent history.
High school sweethearts who have been together since they were 16, the couple never imagined pizza would become their life’s work. Six years ago, during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, Eliot became part of the ownership team alongside a business partner. Although Rylee was still in college, the couple embraced the opportunity together.
“The stars aligned at a perfect time,” Eliot said. “It was a huge opportunity and a big jump for a 20-year-old at the time, but we decided to give it a shot.”
When Eliot’s original business partner later stepped away, the couple continued building the business together. They married last year and now share responsibility for running a restaurant that rarely takes a day off.
“When we got married, we were like, we’re going to tackle this together,” Eliot said. “We’re going to do it.”
Since taking over, the Lawrences have worked to preserve the recipes and traditions that helped make Alley Cat a local favorite.
Quantifying what it takes to keep things going can be measured in the 1,250 pounds of dough or 750 pounds of cheese – and countless pizza boxes in need of folding – required weekly. Dough and sauce are made fresh daily, a process that begins every morning and continues nearly every day of the year.
Helping maintain that consistency is General Manager Russell Kagiliery, who has worked at Alley Cat for 25 years and serves as a living link to the restaurant’s history.
“Our dough recipe is down to the gram,” Rylee said. “If someone says the dough has changed, Russell will tell you it hasn’t.”
The commitment to consistency appears to resonate with customers.
While waiting for a chicken parmesan calzone during a recent visit, Manchester resident Jim Sanford recalled eating Alley Cat pizza years ago with a former girlfriend who attended the nearby New Hampshire Institute of Art.
“We used to come down here and grab a pie and bring it upstairs,” Sanford said. “Great memories.”
Asked why he still comes back, Sanford didn’t hesitate.
“It’s the sauce. It’s the cheese. It’s the quality ingredients,” he said. “It’s unique. It’s got a unique flavor. I wouldn’t go anywhere else for pizza.”
For the Lawrences, Free Slice Day is about more than a promotion. It is a thank-you to the community that has supported Alley Cat through three decades of changing tastes, economic ups and downs and a global pandemic.
“We like downtown Manchester, and we like the community aspect,” Rylee said. “It’s fun seeing events like this take place, and it’s fun getting people to come try Alley Cat.”
The event will feature complimentary cheese slices throughout the day while supplies last – and the Lawrences have spent the past few months planning so that everyone can get a slice. Customers who want additional slices or other menu items can purchase them as usual. A portion of proceeds from additional slice sales will benefit the Manchester Police Athletic League.
The owners expect a busy day but admit there is some uncertainty about just how many people will show up.
“We’ve never done this before,” Eliot said. “We’re making extra dough and making sure everything is stocked and ready to go. It could be a line out the door, or it could be a steady flow of people throughout the day. We really don’t know.”
The event coincides with the last day of school for Manchester, allowing students, downtown workers and families to stop by throughout the day. The owners say they will have slices ready for visitors while continuing normal business operations.
There will also be a cake-cutting ceremony to mark the anniversary, and Mayor Jay Ruais and Gov. Kelly Ayotte have reserved a few slices for pick-up.
For Eliot Lawrence, the celebration is ultimately about something larger than pizza.
“What is a city without community?” he said. “We hope it’s something that makes people happy.”
If You Go
- What: Alley Cat Pizza Free Slice Day
- When: Thursday, June 18, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Where: Alley Cat Pizza, 486 Chestnut St., Manchester
- Cost: One free cheese slice and 10-ounce soda per person
Additional Details: Additional slices and menu items will be available for purchase, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Manchester Police Athletic League.