Mater’s Pizza and Pasta Emporium opened this week and we expect it to have a major impact on downtown Fort Payne.

Owner Chris Roberts has staffed it with some of his students from his School of Music. He said they anticipate generating about $72,000 per year in new sales tax, along with roughly $18,000 from sales of alcoholic beverages from a partitioned area that is separate from the main dining room.

“This will be something like you might find in Birmingham or Atlanta,” Roberts said back in November. Drinks have been given names relevant to Fort Payne and the décor refers to local themes. It also provides another entertainment venue for local musicians to perform for guests.

Two ovens will allow the restaurant to prepare 70 pizzas per hour. Customers will also be able to call in take-out orders and pick them up at a drive-thru window at the rear.