Meadow's Wood-Fired family and fans heartbroken over death of founder Jayson Poluka

Jayson Poluka, co-founder of Meadow's wood burning oven in Mooresville, North Carolina, has died, prompting a flood of sympathetic comments on the Facebook page of the pizzeria.

The restaurant announced Poluka's death in a post on August 26, citing “insurmountable health obstacles” that the restaurateur had faced “for many, many years.”

Poluka opened Meadow's Wood-Fired in 2021, serving a wide variety of pizzas, sandwiches, calzones, and daily or weekly “pop-up specials.” A second location is set to open soon in Cornelius, North Carolina, according to the pizzeria's website.

According to his LinkedIn page, Poluka was also co-founder of Capishe: Real Italian cuisine in Charlotte and was a managing partner at 81 North Companies, a Charlotte-based firm specializing in real estate development and construction management for the hospitality industry. Poluka earned his bachelor's degree in construction management from Arizona State University in 2005. In addition, he has served on the board of directors of FeedNC and as a member of Rotary International.

Meadow's Wood-Fired celebrated his third birthday on August 10th.

“Jayson was more than just a boss; he was a mentor, a friend and a family member to all of us,” reads an Aug. 26 post on the pizzeria's Facebook page. “His passion for food, his unwavering spirit and his infectious laugh made working with him a joy. His concept became a phenomenon and has weathered every storm since its conception in 2019 and finally came to fruition in 2021.”

The post noted Poluka's “infectious laugh, unwavering optimism and incredible ability to connect with people from all walks of life. The man had more strength than we could ever imagine and made that clear daily, even as he faced insurmountable health obstacles for many, many years. We will miss his leadership, wisdom and unwavering belief in our team. His legacy will live on in every dish we serve, a testament to his tireless dedication and unwavering commitment to excellence.”

Meadow's Wood-Fired has deep roots in the Mooresville community. Through a fundraiser called “Meadow's Pies for Supplies 2024,” the pizzeria will donate a percentage of its sales each day in August to teachers from area schools. Teachers sign up for the program, and each day a spot is reserved for a specific teacher. If customers mention the teacher's name when ordering, 10% will be donated to that teacher's school supply wish list.

In June and July, the restaurant also offered one-hour pizza-making classes for local children, led by Chef Daniel Castro. In addition to the pizza-making class, each child received a free ice cream and a child-sized chef's hat and apron.

The Facebook post announcing Poluka's death has garnered more than 320 comments from customers and friends offering their heartfelt condolences. One person, apparently a current employee, wrote: “He was truly the best boss anyone could ask for!! It was an honor to work for him for the past three years. I will miss him so much! I will work extra hard to keep his legacy alive! I know this is what he would have wanted!”

The Facebook post asked guests to be patient “as we cautiously and with uncertainty navigate what comes next, but more importantly, please send the Poluka/Connelly family your best prayers and wishes for strength. 'We will miss you very much' is the understatement of the century… we will make you proud and we love you more than pizza itself, Bossman