SAFETY HARBOR, FL — Jay Leno stopped to grab a slice at a Safety Harbor pizzeria early Saturday afternoon before taking the stage that evening at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall.
The comedian got to The Nona Slice House right when the restaurant opened at noon, owner Jamie Culliton told Patch.
“We had no idea he was coming by,” Culliton said. “I was actually at my house when my manager called me and said, ‘Jay Leno is here. You need to get down here right away.’ I just threw clothes and everything on. I didn’t want to miss an opportunity. It was pretty cool.”
Find out what's happening in Clearwaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The former host of “The Tonight Show” was “super, super friendly,” he added.
Though Leno was in town for a performance, he was also visiting a childhood friend who lived in Safety Harbor and introduced him to Nona, Culliton said.
Find out what's happening in Clearwaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The restaurant owner, a four-time world champion pizza acrobat, came out and gave the comic “a dough show,” he said. “For lack of better description, it’s an acrobatic (pizza) routine done to music.”
As a member of the U.S. Pizza Team, Culliton has won championships in Parma, Italy and Las Vegas.
He also brought Leno some housemade cheesecake during the comedian’s visit.
“Other guests were trying to get pictures with him and he was nice enough to sign a to-go menu for us. A few employees were able to go up and introduce themselves,” Culliton said. “He was just a super nice guy and I was very thankful that he was very friendly and took pictures. It was something he didn’t have to do.”
It also wasn’t his first brush with Leno.
In 2008, Culliton was part of the team that created ice sculpture centerpieces for the pre-Super Bowl gala in Phoenix. The comedian was the headlining act at the event.
Click Here: Kanken Rainbow Backpack
“We made 110 table centerpieces, these big, giant ice sculptures,” he said. “So, I asked (Leno) if he remembered them and I was surprised that he did.”
Culliton added, “Him headlining that event, I thought that would be my Jay Leno story forever. Now, of course, he was in my restaurant and the fact that he remembered (the ice sculptures) trumps my previous story, which obviously is OK with me.”
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.