After years of moving around, Rolling Pepperoni is finally staying put.
Katt Schuler’s grab-and-go spot for pepperoni rolls, coffee and community is now open at 6140 Butler St. in Upper Lawrenceville. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Schuler has been distributing the snacks throughout Pittsburgh since 2015. She makes her dough with local honey and poolish, a fermentation starter that enhances the bread’s flavor and gives it a chewy texture to complement the spicy pork pepperoni. During the baking process, the fats in the meat melt and infuse the bread with oil, creating a natural preservative that gives the rolls a weeklong shelf life.
Schuler sold hundreds to socially distanced patrons during last weekend’s grand opening celebration.
The shop is standing-room only, but customers are encouraged to take their rolls for a stroll down to the water or up into the Allegheny River Greenway, just behind the bakery.
For many people, pepperoni rolls aren’t just a meal, they’re a culinary connection to the past and to Appalachian culture. They’re a staple in Schuler’s home state of West Virginia, and she started making them in college to fend off homesickness. Friends and neighbors couldn’t get enough, and in between bites, they shared childhood memories centered around the rolls.
If the protein and carbohydrate packed treats stir up nostalgia for anyone else, Schuler would like to hear about it.
In October, Schuler’s book, “Rolling Pepperoni Unwrapped,” a coffee table book featuring customer experiences, will be available for purchase.
Through a partnership with the STAY Together Appalachian Youth Project, Schuler hired a story coordinator who is bringing these personal tales to life with an online gallery.
“We are 100 percent still seeking stories,” Schuler says. “And this weekend, so many people with history engrained in the region came to the shop to support Rolling Pepperoni and chat about their life. It’s been a breath of fresh air.”