Tucked away along Highway 97 on the southernmost side of Skaha Lake, an Okanagan Falls pizzeria has quickly emerged among the region's favourite spots to pick up a pie.

Bullies Pizza placed top three on the 鈥淏est Pizza鈥� list for this year's Best of South Okanagan awards, a close to 20-year Black Press tradition that honours everything the area has to offer.

"Community support runs the business," said Lynda Grinnell, co-owner of the pizza shop. "Without the community, we don't have a business."

The Okanagan Falls location came in second place within the 鈥淏est of鈥� category, with Keremeos鈥� Boboys Pizza and Donair (winner) and Panago (runner-up) rounding out the top three.

"It's exciting to get that support," added Dwayne Eisen, Bullies Pizza's other owner and husband of Grinnell. The two took over the business in 2021, after Eisen worked at the shop as a dough maker for the business' previous owners.

Bullies Pizza opened its doors in 2016, vowing to use only local ingredients in its pies, salads, and Greek-inspired wraps.

Whether it's peppers from Kaleden or tomatoes from Oliver, Grinnell and Eisen say they're committed to keeping the local ingredient tradition alive under their ownership.

"Those ingredients are fresh and tasty," Grinnell said. "We try to give a higher quality to all of the pizzas we make."

Giving back to the community it serves also runs deep at Bullies Pizza.

Headlined by the hot lunches it provides to students at Okanagan Falls Elementary School, the business owners say they strive to give back and play a part in making Okanagan Falls a friendly place.

"Doing stuff for the community makes us part of it, and that's really important," Grinnell said.

In a community of around 2,500 people, Bullies Pizza is the go-to place to pick up a slice in Okanagan Falls.

But in recent years, the business' reach has gone beyond just the confines of where it's based.

"We've had customers that come from Penticton, 琉璃神社, Oliver, Osoyoos, Keremeos, and Kaleden," Grinnell said. "But we've also tried to make it a destination thing, where we encourage people to visit the community, visit the beach, do some hikes, and then pick up pizza."

Reflecting on their three years of owning the business, Grinnell and Eisen say their journey in the kitchen comes full circle with one question.

What makes a great pizza?

"Quality ingredients," they both replied. "But cooking in a pan, too. That also makes a difference."