July 8, 2025 – A top spot for pizza in Southaven has been under new ownership for the past month, but diners who eat there wouldn’t know there’s been any change because the same high-quality pizza and menu items are still there.
When Dave and Melissa Pippin sold 3 Guys Pizza Pies in Southaven and Lakeland, Tennessee last month, the way the pizza was made stayed with the new owners, a group of four local businessmen who are now adding to their already successful holdings.
This group of four includes Clay Swindle and Justin Stevens, franchise owners for several Mid-South TCBY locations, Fabian Nelson, franchise owner for the Potbelly Sandwich Shop on Goodman Road in Olive Branch, along with businessman Logan Strickland.
Swindle and Stevens are also involved in the Hernando Sportsplex, the court operations concern at the Gatorade Fieldhouse in Hernando.
Pippin was in the pizza business for 40 years and owned 3 Guys for about 15 years, which at one time had as many as four locations in the Mid-South. Now at two locations, Pippin recently put 3 Guys up for sale, and the new group saw an opportunity.
But what can a frozen yogurt shop owner, sandwich shop owner and others bring to a pizza restaurant? Well, Nelson said the first thing for them is that they were fans before they became owners.
“If you love the product, then you can understand what the customer may or may not want,” Nelson said. “Then you look at the business and say, ‘What can we potentially do to move this business forward?’ We saw local guys serving a good product with a local touch and a background of experience. We thought we could really make an impact in the community.”
Nelson said they will take Pippin’s 40 years of pizza experience and make their product the same way, just refresh some operations and make a better face to the company.
Success still will come when customers learn that 3 Guys is alive, in business, and offering the same great menu items, especially pizza. The restaurant is one customers may remember from their college days but have since forgotten about.
Swindle said they will be active in promoting the restaurant, including the use of social media. However, supporting the community is where 3 Guys really wants to be involved.
From left, Clay Swindle, Fabian Nelson and Logan Strickland, who with John Stevens are new owners of 3 Guys Pizza Pies in Southaven and Lakeland, Tenn. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
“We want the chance to help schools feed their teams, clubs, and stuff,” Swindle said. “We want to be involved with local hospitals, churches, daycares, any of the above. It gets our product in peoples’ hands and it reminds people of who we are and where we are.”
Strickland said he is assuming operational duties for 3 Guys at both Southaven and Lakeland locations. His background has been in the corporate world, working in store management with Kroger for 12 years and he’s also worked for True Temper Sports in downtown Memphis in supply chain and inventory areas.
“I’m going to be more of the ‘boots on the ground’ day-to-day person,” Strickland said.
Nelson said the restaurant business has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic as more customers now want their food delivered to them or for them to come and take out their order.
“We’re going to deliver, we’re going to use third-party apps for the product and we’re going to cater,” Nelson said. “Catering is the best way, the best marketing thing, that we can do and it’s going to be a big part for us.”
Everything found on the menu is made with quality and fresh taste. Moreover, the four guys who now make up the ownership of 3 Guys will aim to drive all decisions based on what is best for the customer, from parking lot to checkout, kitchen, dining area, delivery, catering and community involvement.
Three Guys Pizza Pies is open from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, closed on Monday at both locations. Learn more at the 3 Guys Pizza Pies website.
