Eight years after arriving in Bathurst, Pizza 13 owner, Antoine Attard is showing no signs of slowing down

In 2016, Antoine Attard moved from France to the Bathurst region. With a background as an electrician, he began working at Thru Shine. First cleaning cars, and after a few months becoming a business manager, where he was in charge of the electronic systems.

He knew he wanted to be a business owner, and he realized Bathurst lacked an authentic Italian pizzeria. Always one to take a challenge head on, Antoine asked himself, “Why can’t I open up one?” 

With no background in cooking, it was a learning curve for Antoine, but one he handled well. The beginning of Pizza 13 was the purchase of a small wood oven at the Bathurst market.

At this time, he was still working at Thru Shine, and that was when he met Co-Owner of Au Bootlegger, Michael Petrovici. Through some friendly conversation, Michael told him to come to Au Bootlegger and sell pizza there. 

For 2 years, Pizza 13 operated in Au Bootlegger. However, their visions of the future were different, and Antoine decided it was time to step out on his own. 

Antoine, who already had a good relationship with the owner of Vino Bar & Lounge, got together and opened up in the same building on Murray Avenue. 

Now they’re heading into their fourth year in the building, and Antoine is happy to be where he’s at.

“I love this place. We built this place by ourselves with no contractors other than plumbing and electrical,” says Antoine.

When I asked him what brought him to Bathurst from France, Antoine said that home wasn’t feeling like home.

“I wanted to open a business, and it’s more difficult in France. Then I met Kim Chamberlain in France who said that Bathurst was looking for more French-speaking people, and I thought I could bring some of my culture here.” 

Antoine also praises the community in Bathurst, saying that without their help and support, they would have never realized his restaurant and his dream. 

“We were trying to open right during the pandemic. It was a big gamble. And in bigger cities where the community isn’t as strong, I don’t think it would have worked,” says Antoine. 

He laughs as he talks about his best-selling pizza, Bayonne. Which is made with goat cheese, prosciutto and honey. At the beginning of Pizza 13, people here weren’t crazy about these different types of pizza, but now the people of Bathurst love it.

“I think it’s important to add to the community.”

We think Antoine has added a great deal to the community.

This is another edition of the Northern Heat Report. The place you come to listen to the stories  that have not yet been discovered.

If you want to learn more about Pizza 13, you can visit their website here: https://www.pizza13.ca/menu?lang=en or visit them on social media.

We want to thank Antoine Attard for taking some time from his busy schedule to sit down with us and tell us his story.