Resilience, community spirit and delicious pizza!
It’s these words that spring to mind when we think of Adelaide’s own DoughBalls, the Pizza Place. When DoughBalls swung open its doors in gorgeous Glenelg for the first time in February 2020, there was excitement in the air — and of course intrigue, because what the hell was a ‘Dough Ball’?
Image credit: Wayne Pearson
Back to the beginning
Cat Devlin and her beautiful little family had the genius idea to deliver pizza, with a twist to families all over SA. In case you didn’t know… DoughBalls are delicious, twice-proved balls of pizza dough, cooked in the oven and then served warm with either sweet or savoury toppings.
Driven by a love for food and a desire to bring people together, Cat and her hubby, Lincoln, created a fun, welcoming space in Moseley Square where everyone could walk in off the beach and enjoy their delicious dough-based creations.
Don’t mention the C-word
Just two months after opening their doors, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill, with the restaurant industry being one of the hardest hit.
The initial lockdowns created uncertainty and fear, but the DoughBalls team refused to be disheartened and they adapted quickly, shifting their focus to takeaway and delivery services.
The local community rallied around them, placing orders and spreading the word. Despite the challenges, they managed to keep their doors open, providing a sense of comfort through pizzas, salads and the unique DoughBalls menu.
Light at the end of the tunnel
As the pandemic eased, Cat saw an opportunity for growth and decided to expand to Mawson Lakes. The timing seemed perfect, but fate had other plans. Just as they were getting ready to welcome new customers, another wave of COVID hit and Cat found out she was expecting baby number two! When it rains, it pours — right? With the excitement of their little ball in the oven, they also faced the daunting task of navigating restrictions and uncertainties.
But Cat, being the super woman that she is, continued to innovate. She introduced new menu items, built a loyal community on social media and created a pop-up DoughBalls van to take to events and locations all over SA.
Onwards and upwards
With Mawson Lakes closing due to COVID, Cat and Lincoln took up an opportunity they couldn’t refuse with an upmarket (or as we at Adelady say, ‘fancy’) version of DoughBalls in Rundle Place, next door to the brand-new Funlab.
Image credit: Wayne Pearson
“We want to provide affordable, comfortable and luxurious dining that’s accessible to everyone — Rundle Place has given us the opportunity to really deliver on this,” says Cat.
And their newest baby at Fort Largs has Cat and Lincoln’s family jumping out of their skin!
“The Fort Largs development is going to change the shape of Adelaide’s coastline, with awesome eateries, markets and free parking — you can take your DoughBalls to the beach!”
All for the love of DoughBalls
Every new opening is a tribute to the community that has supported Cat and her DoughBalls family through thick and thin, and we reckon the human element of their biz is what truly sets them apart from other pizza joints.
As they continue to expand, the heart of DoughBalls remains the same: a place where every meal is made with love and every customer is treated like family.
We’re so proud of you, Cat!
Instagram: @doughballsau
Website: doughballs.com.au
Locations: Glenelg, Rundle Place, Fort Largs
