By Susan Edmonston, Editor Emeritus
Dave’s Pizza Oven in Coldwater will begin its 42nd year this October and owner Dave Gerstner will celebrate his 66th birthday on Oct. 9.
He and his wife, Monika, do a little bit of everything in the restaurant. Dave does the bookkeeping and she does the scheduling.
The menu in this business offers many choices of pizza – the most popular one is “The Works”; the salad bar, a variety of bread sticks, spaghetti, four choices of sandwiches, dessert pizzas – apple, cherry, and peach – and soft drinks, tea and coffee.
Dave’s Journey
Gerstner arrived in Coldwater in October of 1984. Merle Wait from The Bank of Protection financed him to open a pizza place. Pat Freund designed the pizza man logo, and Dave’s Pizza Oven opened that month in the former Bowman’s Cafe on Main Street – where Angels’ Attic is now.
The business was open every day – Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Ten years later, in August 1994, a refrigerator caught fire and severely damaged the building.
Fortunately, half a block west was the vacant Hoofer’s Grocery. It was available and three months later, Dave’s Pizza Oven reopened, and remains there to this day. It has been the most popular eating place in town. It catches a lot of travelers going through Coldwater, and people from neighboring communities. Plus, a lot of business comes from Lake Coldwater, just south of town.
The building seats 130, and special occasions occur there frequently for all kinds of groups. Also, holidays bring many there to eat.
Gerstner continued to have his business open seven days a week and it wasn’t until recently that he began to limit days to be open. Dave’s Pizza Oven is now closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Buffet meals for lunch now happen on Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Typical Day
Pizza dough made daily by the owner himself varies from 100 to 200 pounds; many times the seasons and events determine how much. Dave and Monika both help set up the buffet.
The Gerstners have been lucky to have a low turnover when it comes to help in the restaurant. Presently, they have nine part-time employees, many of them are high school students. Some employees have been there for 15-20 years.
The busiest day is Sunday as families come after church. It also is very busy before ball games and other school events.
Growing Up Years
Dave was born, in 1960, at St. Anthony’s Hospital, in Hays. Three older sisters welcomed him home. Gerstner’s baptism was at St. Joseph’s, in Hays.
The family lived in Hays but had farmland near Victoria, 10 miles from Hays and Walker. His grandfather helped build Victoria’s historic cathedral, and Gerstner has aunts and uncles buried in that community.
Gerstner has experience working in fuel stations, a bicycle shop and Cross Manufacturing where they made hydraulic cylinders.
He attended Thomas More Prep for two and a half years but did not finish his senior year at Hays High because Pizza Inn hired him as a dishwasher and delivery man before eventually promoting to manager at the Garden City location. There, Godfather’s Pizza hired Gerstner away from Pizza Inn. He also worked with pizza places in Larned, Oakley, Russell and two years at Pizza Hut, in Hays.
When Gerstner was 24, he experimented with pizza crust. The basic recipe uses flour, salt and yeast. He developed a flavor he wanted from a technique that makes each one the same and is consistent in making.
“That recipe hasn’t changed for 41 years, and it’ll continue this month as we begin our 42nd year,” Gerstner said.
Family
He met Monika, from Poland, in 1993 and they have four children: daughters Tonia, age 44 and Nicci, age 42; sons Conrad, 28 and Carson, 24.
The sons were homeschooled, but Tonia graduated from Coldwater High School, in 1999, and Nicci graduated from South Central High School in 2002. All four have helped their parents with Dave’s Pizza Oven.
In June of 1999, the Gerstners moved into a house that was built in 1920. Currently, Monika’s dad lives with her and Dave.
Collections, Hobbies
Gerstner collects old watches, gadgets and cameras, some he sells.
He likes wind surfing, camping, motorcycles, road racing and billiards. Since 1984, the business in Coldwater has had a game room that young and old alike enjoy.
Photography has been a lifelong hobby for Gerstner. He had his own darkroom to develop negatives. Until the digital-age came along, he had a fair amount of equipment and has kept the enlarger and several other items.
Some of his electrical storm photos have been displayed in the past on the walls of Dave’s Pizza Oven.
He also loves metal detecting and has seven or eight devices in his possession. Gerstner used them in old Comanche County ghost towns, ranches, ballparks, trails and beaches. He’s found old coins, tools that probably fell off tractors and even a late 1700s-early 1880s brass crotal bell. Many of his finds were given to the owners of the property.
“No place is ever detected enough,” Gerstner said. “After a rain, soil washes away and things surface.”
He is also very interested in reading local history books and removing maps from National Geographic magazines. Those large maps are pasted upon the wall people see when they enter Dave’s Pizza Oven.
“And I have some that I haven’t put up yet,” he said. “I found many of the maps in junk shops and antique places.”
In the mid 1980s and early 1990s, he went storm-chasing up to 200 miles from Coldwater just for the fun of it. He quit after cresting a hill and came up on 20 vehicles. He decided then traffic was too dangerous plus a couple of times he had come too close to a tornado. Sometimes there was no warning.
Memories
Back in the 1980s, students earned a coupon that Pizza Hut entitled them to have a personal pan pizza for reading a certain number of books.
Dave’s Pizza Oven celebrated with the public when the Gerstners had been in business for their 30th and 40th anniversaries.
Future of Dave’s Pizza
Gerstner began thinking of retirement in 2025 and he posted that message on Facebook. He said several people have inquired about the business, and Gerstner believes his pizza business will continue with a new owner eventually.
He says he is offering a buyer the training and the pizza recipe that he has kept secret.
When Gerstners finally retire, they will travel more. Dave said he has been to Poland three times.
“I’ll miss the people, the friendships, and thanks to all for the support given me and Monika all these years,” he said. “By the way, you might not know this, but a good steak is my favorite food.”
