NATCHEZ — The pizzeria that took Louisiana by storm decades ago is making its way across the river to Natchez.

Johnny’s Pizza House will open a new location — the first in Mississippi — on Martin Luther King Jr. Street in the former Cajun Cookin’ building.

The building has already received a fresh coat of paint and new signs adorn each side the structure.

“It’s amazing how much better the building looks already,” said Johnny’s franchisee Vicki Broussard, who owns the Vidalia Johnny’s along with her husband, Todd.

Broussard said she can already feel a buzz around the news of the new location.

“People in Natchez that are hearing about it, they’re coming in to our store (in Vidalia) asking, ‘When do (you) open?’” Broussard said.

Broussard tentatively said the Natchez Johnny’s would open sometime in mid-October.

Customers will be able to dine-in or opt for carryout or delivery, Broussard said.  Like in Vidalia, the new pizza house will have the same full menu and a salad bar, although Broussard said the new location would not contain a pizza bar.

Unlike the Vidalia Johnny’s, however, this restaurant will offer pizza by the slice, Broussard said. She also added that this Johnny’s, which will be located mere blocks from Cathedral School, would offer an “after-school special” for local students.

Additionally, Broussard said she hopes to work with local schools to make Johnny’s pizzas available at football games.

“Our goal is really, when we have these football games, we want to be able to sell the schools pizzas and let them sell it at their concession stands to make a profit for the school,” Broussard said. “That’s what Johnny’s does in Monroe.”

But for now, Broussard said she is just excited to bring Johnny’s to Natchez. Broussard said to expect a grand-opening event once the restaurant is ready to officially open its doors.