By Claire Oven
Jeremy Loebach has always been a fan of the pizza business. While his high school sweetheart, Deanna, was at college, Jeremy worked for a small Italian restaurant called Pepinos, where he developed his love for pizza. Jeremy saved all his money from delivering pizzas and opened his first pizza place at just 21 years old.
He owned what was known as the “first” Village Pizza for about a year before moving to North Carolina with Deanna. Deanna had just finished college and they wanted to have a little adventure before eventually returning to Engadine with their three kids: Ally, Vern, and Coleman. They moved back in 2010 with the intention to raise their kids in a small rural town, just as they had. When they first arrived back in Michigan, Jeremy picked up various construction jobs while Deanna stayed at home raising the kids.
In 2014, the pizza business beckoned once again, and the Loebach family opened a small restaurant in Naubinway – the “second” Village Pizza.
“I kind of fell in love with the business,” Jeremy Loebach said.
Every item on the Village Pizza menu originated from home recipes. They make their own pizza dough, shred the cheese themselves, and make their own sauce.
Around the same time that the Loebachs were opening Village Pizza, Jeremy began a construction business of his own. Deanna’s degree in hospitality and tourism and Jeremy’s knack for the pizza business make them well-suited to be small business owners.
Each member of the family plays their own role, including the kids.
It was in 2024 that the Loebach’s daughter, Ally, became equally invested in the idea of owning a business. Ally had always loved coffee, and the family had tossed around the idea of opening up a coffee shop for a few years. When an Airstream trailer suddenly came on the market, they jumped on the opportunity. Coffee Alley opened in June 2024, featuring their original drink recipes.
“Jeremy has always loved the adventure of opening up a business… he’s an entrepreneur,” Deanna said.
On top of all of this, Deanna and Jeremy have been very engaged in the community. Deanna is often found helping out with events, including being in charge of the Christmas Bizarre for many years. Deanna said she likes to get involved in anything that her kids are involved in.
Since their business is only open three days a week during the winter months, it allows more time for volunteering, whether it be band boosters, sports boosters, vacation bible school, or anything else her kids might be a part of.
“I like to be part of the community,” Deanna said. “In small communities, every organization struggles to find volunteers.”
Jeremy also loves being involved – when he isn’t working at Village Pizza or his construction business, he serves as the Boys Junior Varsity Basketball Coach at Engadine. Both of Jeremy’s kids are on the team, and he enjoys helping them grow just as much as his kids love having him as a coach.
This summer, the community will see a new addition to the Loebach’s business: a beer garden. A pleasant grassy area behind the coffee trailer has picnic tables, cornhole boards, and plenty of space to enjoy a variety of Michigan’s craft beer. Jeremy plans to build a small stage for live performances, which he’d like to schedule at least a few times a month. The Loebachs want to create an atmosphere where you can be outside and enjoy food and beer with your family and friends.
The Loebachs are passionate about family, food, and community, somehow blending all three. Most people that work with the Loebachs are family, and if you aren’t technically family, you are soon welcomed in all the same. That’s because they believe that time at work is just more time with family.
