A slice of Christmas

Though many think of Christmas dinner as a turkey or ham surrounded by a plethora of side dishes, for some Newport Beach locals, a slice of pizza hits the spot.

At Original Pizza on Balboa Peninsula, co-owner Steve Kalatschan has been serving up fresh slices to hungry beachgoers for about 20 years.

For 37-year-old Kalatschan, being open on Christmas has become an institution of sorts. When he and his brother were in high school, their father promised them a chunk of the holiday profits in exchange for their labor. Because his family finished up Christmas festivities in the morning, he had nothing to do but work in the shop.

“To a high school kid, that was a lot of money,” Kalatschan said.

And from there, the tradition grew. Not only is it customary for the pizzeria to stay open on Christmas, indulging in a slice or two is also part of the holiday routine for many local families.

Before heading down to the beach, Jolene Eggmann and her mother, who drove in from Orange, stopped in for pizza and a salad Monday — their customary Christmas dinner.

“I think it’s awesome he’s open,” Eggmann, 22, said. “This is what people want to eat on Christmas.”

Kalatschan said he has a family drive in from Riverside every year to dine at Original Pizza for Christmas, the only day of the year they visit the eatery.

“People are so happy we are open on Christmas,” said Kalatschan, who expected a couple hundred guests Christmas Day. “There’s a lot of generosity today.”

Bree Phillips has been working at the shop for about five years and, like Kalatschan, doesn’t mind working on the holiday. After opening presents in the morning with her family, 20-year-old Phillips walks to work, serves pizza and returns home just in time for dinner.