Kevin Newton grew up just outside New York City in a small New Jersey town.
He remembers the many pizza restaurants that served “New York-style” pizza: Large pizzas with thin crusts and lots of cheese.
Newton joined the Navy, where he met his future wife, who was from the Midwest. He ended up in Kewanee, where he became director of public works for the city. He said he has lived about half his life in New Jersey and half in the Midwest (he’ll turn 49 in May).
One drawback to living in this part of the world for Newton was that his beloved New York pizza wasn’t available anywhere.
“I grew up around pizzerias, but I never could get pizza like that around here,” Newtown said. So he “got the bug” to start making that pizza himself.
The key to making quality pizza, Newton said, is to use high-quality ingredients, and that philosophy has paid off: He eventually started making pizzas in large enough quantities that he could sell them locally.
They proved to be so popular that Newton decided to make a complete career change: He gave notice that he was leaving his job with the city and going into the pizza business full time.
So began the story of Head Nods & High Fives, Newton’s new pizza-making operation which is housed at the new Social Corner restaurant/bar at the corner of Second and Tremont streets in downtown Kewanee.
Newton is partnering with John Cernovich in the endeavor; he’ll make the pizzas while Cernovich handles the beverage business.
Now, the business is open for carryout only, Thursdays and Fridays from 4 to 10 p.m. On his opening night, Newton said, he sold 69 pizzas.
By Jan. 16, Newton hopes to be open for dining in.
The tentative plan is to be open fulltime by Jan. 22 from Wednesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner.
There are eight people working at Head Nods and High Fives, including Newton and his son.
“I care about my craft,” Newton said, “and I want to put out a quality pizza.”
To order a pizza for carryout, phone 309-761-8075.
