Windsor Pizza Phenomenon Professor Zaaa's Opening Sparks Unprecedented Customer Frenzy
The launch of Professor Zaaa's Pizza in Windsor has created what owner Derek Litster describes as "the craziest thing I've ever experienced," with massive crowds, extensive lineups, and sold-out signs marking the restaurant's opening week. The award-winning pizza creator, known for his cult-like following among pizza enthusiasts, found himself overwhelmed by ravenous customers from the moment doors opened at the new Wyandotte Street East location.
Overwhelming Demand and Operational Challenges
Litster, who operates the restaurant with his partner Lisa Bottone (known as Sergeant Zaaa), faced immediate operational challenges that tested all his previous restaurant experience. "I've never been a part of a restaurant that opens like this," Litster revealed. "I've never had 30 people standing outside my door in minus-25 degree weather waiting to get in."
The demand proved so intense that the restaurant exhausted two days' worth of prepared ingredients in just one day, forcing a temporary closure on the second day to regroup and restock. Litster reported receiving approximately 3,500 missed phone calls in a single day as customers tried to place orders or inquire about availability.
Decades-Long Dream Realized
The January 21 opening represented the culmination of a decades-long dream for Litster, who has earned multiple national and international pizza awards throughout his career. The restaurant, appropriately named Professor Zaaa's, serves both Windsor-style and Detroit-style pizzas five days a week, featuring everything from traditional canned mushroom and shredded pepperoni combinations to more innovative creations with ranch, alfredo, or barbecue bases topped with pickles, pulled pork, or roasted chicken.
"All the systems I've used in the past, they don't work here," said Litster, who previously worked with another local franchise for 24 years. "This place is a completely different animal."
Comprehensive Menu and Local Sourcing
Beyond their signature pizzas, Professor Zaaa's offers a diverse menu including appetizers, tater tots, stromboli, and fried chicken sandwiches. The establishment emphasizes local sourcing and in-house preparation, with Litster noting they even can their own mushrooms. The restaurant also provides a complete vegan menu to accommodate various dietary preferences.
Litster credits his partner Bottone with making the venture possible, stating, "As much as this is all focused around me, without her doing this with me, it isn't even possible." The couple met in 2020 when Bottone began working as Litster's pizza stretcher, eventually becoming both life and business partners.
Continued Customer Enthusiasm
Even after the initial opening frenzy, customer enthusiasm remained remarkably high. When the restaurant reopened on Friday following their brief closure, Litster reported that "the second the door opened, there's like 40 people standing inside." The establishment quickly reached capacity, requiring staff to turn away customers as they struggled to manage both timed reservations and walk-in orders.
Among the fortunate early visitors were 8-year-old Mila Artale and her 13-year-old brother Dominick Artale, who managed to beat the crowds and enjoy slices during the opening week. Their experience represents the successful culmination of Litster's long-held vision, though the overwhelming response has created what he describes as "amazing problems to have" for any restaurant owner.
