Jayson Poluka, co-founder of Meadow’s Wood-Fired in Mooresville, North Carolina, has passed away, prompting a deluge of sympathetic comments on the pizzeria’s Facebook page.
The restaurant announced Poluka’s passing in an August 26 post, referring to “insurmountable health obstacles” the restaurateur had faced “for many, many years.”
Poluka opened Meadow’s Wood-Fired in 2021, serving a wide variety of pizzas, sandwiches, calzones and daily or weekly “pop up specials.” According to the pizzeria’s website, a second location is scheduled to launch soon in Cornelius, North Carolina.
According to his LinkedIn page, Poluka also co-founded Capishe: Real Italian Kitchen in Charlotte and was a managing partner at 81 North Companies, a Charlotte firm specializing in real estate development and construction management for the hospitality industry. Poluka earned his bachelor’s degree in construction management from Arizona State University in 2005. Additionally, he was a board member of FeedNC and a member of Rotary International.
Meadow’s Wood-Fired celebrated its third anniversary on August 10.
“Jayson was more than just a boss; he was a mentor, a friend, and a family member to us all,” an August 26 post on the pizzeria’s Facebook page reads. “His passion for food, his unwavering spirit, and his infectious laughter made working with him a joy. His concept became a phenomenon and has weathered every storm seen since the concept originated in 2019 and eventually came to fruition in 2021.”
The post noted Poluka’s “infectious laughter, his unwavering optimism, and his incredible ability to connect with people from all walks of life. The man had more strength than any of us could ever fathom and made that apparent daily even as he faced insurmountable health obstacles for many, many years. We’ll miss his guidance, his wisdom, and his unwavering belief in our team. His legacy will live on in every dish we serve, a testament to his tireless dedication and unwavering commitment to excellence.”
Meadow’s Wood-Fired is deeply embedded in the Mooresville community. With a fundraiser called Meadow’s Pies for Supplies 2024, the pizzeria has been donating a percentage of its sales every day in August to teachers from the region’s schools. Teachers sign up for the program, and one slot is reserved each day for a specific teacher. When customers mention the teacher’s name while placing an order, 10% is donated to that teacher’s wish list for school supplies.
In June and July, the restaurant also offered hour-long Future Pizza Chef classes for local children, led by Executive Chef Daniel Castro. Along with the pizza-making lesson, each child received a free gelato and a kid-sized chef hat and apron.
The Facebook post announcing Poluka’s death has drawn more than 320 comments, with customers and friends expressing their heartfelt condolences. One person, apparently a current employee, wrote, “He truly was the best boss anyone could ask for!! It was an honor to work for him over the past 3 years. I will miss him so much! I will work extra hard to keep his legacy alive! I know that’s what he would have wanted!”
The Facebook post asked for guests’ patience “as we navigate what comes next, delicately and with uncertainty, but more importantly please send your best prayers and wishes for strength to the Poluka/Connelly family. ‘We will miss you dearly’ is the understatement of the century…we will make you proud and we love you more than pizza itself, bossman
