Backpacker Pizza, just three weeks old, has already become a massive success in Downtown Camas. Started by Jami and Rod Harris, it is the product of a love for food and the long-time dream of opening up a restaurant.
When the Harrises moved to Camas a few years ago, they immediately fell in love with the downtown.
“We decided that, if we were going to open a restaurant—something we had talked about many, many times—we wanted to commit to opening it downtown,” Jami Harris said. “It was the obvious choice.”
When the location became available, Harris said that they made the space work for them, even when it was difficult.
At Backpacker Pizza, one of the key features of the menu is the use of locally sourced ingredients for their food. They even grow their own herbs and microgreens inside of the restaurant to maximize freshness.
“We’re trying to source as much as we can within 10 minutes or two hours of this location,” Harris said. Even the on-tap root beer comes directly from Snoqualmie, WA, a brewery north of Camas.
Backpacker’s menu includes classic pizzas like cheese, pepperoni, and veggie, but it also offers various seasonal options that change with the year. Salads, cookies, drinks, and a kid’s menu are also all available.
“Their flavor combinations were really creative,” Camas High School (CHS) senior Raye Jensen said after eating there.
“I tried the pepperoni and it was very flavorful,” CHS sophomore Victoria McNutt said. “The service was really fast too, especially with how busy they were.”
Although there were some challenges on the road to opening, whether it be determining the amount of dough needed each day or preparing their brand-new ovens, the Harrises thanked the community for being so supportive throughout the journey.
“We appreciate everyone, especially help from our neighbors around downtown throughout our wild opening,” Harris said.
The response from the city since opening has been extremely positive, according to Harris, noting that they frequently sell out due to the amount of people coming in. She also mentioned that, despite only being open for a few weeks, Backpacker Pizza has already acquired a few regulars.
Backpacker pizza has plans to expand their menu in the future, possibly to include sandwiches and soups. For now though, they are focused on making quality food that can be enjoyed together as a family.
“It’s not slices, it’s not fast food. This is a family-style restaurant,” Harris said.
