This Week's Entrepreneurs: Broadway Bound and a Grandma-Style Pizza

This is the first of a regular series of articles looking at local entrepreneurs as they open their doors in Toms River, sharing the stories behind the business. This week we check in with a dance studio and a brick-oven pizzeria.

Lindsay and David Williams, Broadway Bound Dance Studio

Lindsay Williams looks back at her husband David in their new dance studio. She smiles with a sense of pride; the feeling of starting your own business can cause many smiles.

Both Lindsay and David, owners of Broadway Bound Dance Centre, were in the studio getting ready for a class of students. The new dance studio is located on , next to White Castle and offers many types of dance instruction.

It's not an ordinary dance studio. You can tell by the theater seating welcoming you as soon as you walk in. Inspirations from some of Broadways' glory days align the room as Playbills cover the border of the ceiling. "We have a musical theater ensemble as one of our classes" said owner Lindsay Williams in recent interview. "In that you learn a junior musical with the lines, the choreography and music."

"We are one of the only studios in the area that does an all boy hip-hop class," said Lindsay. "We do a lot of musical theater, ballet, tap, jazz and we also have fitness classes like Zumba, Belly-Dancing and Yoga."

Broadway Bound has been open for about a month and the classes are starting to form for the fall semester. The official registration begins in September, but exercise and drop-in classes are at certain times for now. "You can just come in to check out a class. Once fall begins it will be on a weekly schedule," said David.

Williams said the classes go from September to June to fit in with the school year.

Lindsay, who has been dancing since she was 2 ½ years old, has danced with the Hartford Ballet for a number of years before finishing her degree at Rutgers with a background in dance education. David has a degree in Graphic Design which he used to design the studio and setup the website. David also said that they are the only dance studio in the area that has two different studios on premises. Both are 720 square feet in addition to a multi-purpose room clients can use to book parties.

They have an Open House on September 10 for the formal classes. You can learn more about Broadway Bound Dance Centre on Facebook at "BBDCNJ" or by calling them at 732-503-9444

Joseph DiPierro and Camillo Bonesse, Joey D's Pizzeria

Joseph DiPierro and Camillo Bonesse have been in the restaurant business for years. , however, is their first business together and they believe they have a secret to good food.

"The pizza is done in a nice brick oven. It's a different kind of cook, it’s a higher temperature," said DiPierro. "This gives it s nice crunchy texture and we have a nice thin crust."

With more pizzerias in town than you can count, the pair hope to stand out with Joey D's. The key way, said the pair, is homemade and top quality ingredients.

DiPierro said the sauce is homemade and they use Grande cheese. "It’s a lot of new things people haven’t seen in the area." said DiPierro.

Besides pizza Joey D's offers fresh focaccia bread, paninis and dinner meals as well. "We got a nice broccoli rabe with sausage," said Bonesse. "And nice bread from Brooklyn." Other specials on the menu include clams oreganata, sole oreganata and a pescatore. Bonesse also mentioned they are known for their "grandma style pizza" which is a thin crust Sicilian.

Bonesse said they have a singer on Saturday nights from 5-8 p.m. who plays Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett tunes. DiPierro said that they are planning to do a lot of holiday catering and Pizza Eat-Off Contests in the future.

"It's a family style atmosphere…we take a lot of pride in what we do," said Bonesse.

Located in the Dover Shopping Center next to the Marquee Theatre, Joey D's offers Brooklyn-style pizza. Since they have opened their doors about a month ago, repeat customers have made Joey D's their new pizza spot.

Steve and Sara Cumber were enjoying the food on a recent trip. "The pizza is wonderful here," said Sara Cumber. "The sauce is great. Great, great pies and good service." said Steve Cumber.

To find out more about their pizza you can check them on the web at www.joeydsbrickovenpizza.com or call them at 732-503-4409.

Are you a new business in town or are working toward your grand opening? Share your story with us at tomsriver@patch.com