Randy Whelan stands in front of the spiral conveyer located in the new addition of the Imo’s manufacturing facility south of Waterloo.

Residents know Imo’s has served pizza in Waterloo for many years, but Imo’s was in the community even before the locals could buy the “square beyond compare” east of the Mississippi.

The Imo’s manufacturing facility at 5901 State Route 3 in Waterloo was built in 1989. Since then, the location has been able to provide salad dressings, pizza shells, sauces, bread and every product in between to every one of its approximately 100 restaurants.

Now, Carl Imo, son of founders Marge and Ed Imo, said a $1.8 million expansion is underway. Imo said the project will increase the capacity for pizza shells.

“It’s for future growth,” he said. “We want to be able to supply the products before opening any new locations.”

Randy Whelan, who oversees operations at the factory, said renovations will include adding a freezer and several more dough presses.

A new spiral conveyer has already been completed.

According to Whelan, the spiral conveyer cools the dough to a more manageable temperature. The dough presses are machines that press the dough into the appropriate pie shape.

“The pieces for the spiral conveyer came in boxes and we assembled it in-house,” Whelan said. “It gives you satisfaction knowing that you did the work yourself. Plus, we’ll be more familiar with the machine if something breaks down and need to fix it.”

The total square feet of the facility was 17,200 before the addition. Whelan said the 7,290-square-foot addition will bring the total to 24,490. While 100 people are now employed at the factory, Whelan plans to hire a total of 20 more employees.

“We’re shooting for having the additions done before Christmas,” he added.

Imo said when his family opened the Waterloo facility, also known as Roma Pizza Shell Company, that “it just made sense.”

“Back in the day, we had family in Red Bud and Prairie du Rocher. And it’s a USDA facility,” he said.

In addition, Imo’s owns the former Anheuser-Busch distribution warehouse at 946 Park Street in Waterloo for storage.