Just off of Logan, Utah’s Main Street and a story below ground lies a dimly lit restaurant that has been churning out deep-dish pizzas, “Godfather” sandwiches, nachos, salads, pastas and beers for the last 53 years.

With original wooden tables sporting hand-carved insignias of its patrons, a classic arcade machine, a pool table and an owner who cherishes his regulars, The Factory has withstood the test of time.

Owner Fernando Ortiz’s care for his customers was on display when The Herald Journal first attempted to talk to him about his business, Tuesday, Ortiz’s only day off.

Ortiz left the front door unlocked and as The Herald Journal arrived to take pictures and conduct an interview, local high-school students followed them in.

After agreeing to serve the first few high-school students on their lunch break, Ortiz found himself engulfed in making 20-plus pizzas for nearly 40 students, all of which he accomplished within 45 minutes. All of this was in addition to a special take-out order he had previously agreed to do, consisting of another five pizzas.

His decision to serve customers on his day off was an easy one for him.

“It’s part of the life,” Ortiz laughed.

“One day I’m not going to be able to do it. … I’m still happy to come to work every day,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz constantly spoke of how much he values the opportunity to talk with his customers and learn about their lives, whether they are regulars or if it’s their first time.

“My customers … I feel they are pretty nice,” Ortiz said. “They come in — some I know by their name, some I know by their face — but they know me and they can scream at me, ‘Hey Fernando, where are you?’”

He spoke fondly of a particular group of women who have been coming nearly every Friday, for years, following their time at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple just up the road.

Since taking over the restaurant in 1997, Ortiz has mostly kept the same menu because he believes it’s what the regulars want.

“When the people come, they want the sandwich they got 20 years ago,” Ortiz said.

While most of it has stayed the same, certain cultural phenomena such as alfredo pizza and chicken bacon ranch pizza have made their way onto the menu. Ortiz said they also recently added the “Nerviosa,” a spicy pizza featuring chicken, pepperoni, jalapeños, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, cheddar and mozzarella cheese.

Formerly a farmer in Mexico, Ortiz said he is grateful for his life in Logan.

“I told my parents, ‘I need to go somewhere else to do a little bit better and have a chance,’ and the United States gave me the chance,” Ortiz said. “I’m so happy with what I’ve done in my life. I have a house, I have a family and I have a job. What else can I ask for?”

Though Ortiz does often spend long hours at The Factory, the time he spends with his family means a great deal to him.

“That’s the most important thing for me and I tell my kids, ‘I can choose to do other things but I choose to be at home or be with you guys doing something,’” Ortiz said.

Even though he may not eat every meal at his restaurant — citing 31 years of eating there — he did say when he does want pizza, he rarely strays from his home base.

“The sauce and the crust … I think it’s really hard to come up with that and I think that’s what makes us a little different than everyone else,” Ortiz said.

Going forward, Ortiz said he has no desire to expand his business outside of Logan and his established set of customers.

“I’ve been doing what I want to do and I’m happy with what I am,” Ortiz said, later adding, “I just want to be happy and that’s what I do now.”

The Factory is located at 119 S. Main St. in Logan, Utah, and is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.