For Peter Mehta, becoming the owner of the new Papa John’s Pizza in New Hyde Park was the next step in his lifelong passion for pizza.
“I’ve always been an extreme lover of pizza,” said Mehta.
Mehta, who recalled times in his younger years when he ate pizza three times a day, said he always like Papa John’s Pizza.
As an unexpected bonus, the store Mehta opened at 909 Hillside Ave in the North Commos shopping center was the 4,000th Papa John’s eatery to open worldwide.
“It’s a big milestone. It’s a great American success story,” Mehta said, sitting in the pizza store..
John Schnatter, Papa John’s founder, chairman and CEO, joined Metha at the recent grand opening of the Papa John’s in New Hyde Park
“It’s been a long road from the broom closet in my dad’s tavern where we first started making pizza to the store 4,000,” Schnatter said.
Schnatter had kicked things off at age 22 when knocked down the broom closet of his father’s tavern in Jeffersonville, Indiana, bought $1,600 worth of used restaurant equipment, and began delivering pizzas out of the back of the bar.
in recent months, he visited new Papa John’s restaurants in the Middle East, Russia and Latin America.
The Sept. 14 grand opening event was also attended by local dignitaries, including state Assemblyman Ed Ra, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, Nassau County Legislator Richard Nicolello, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, town clerk Leslie Gross and Mark Laytin, president of the Greater New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce.
There were four oversized pizzas displayed in the parking lot next to Papa John’s, each bearing one numeral of 4,000 in pepperoni slices.
The celebration included live musical entertainment, raffle drawings for Camaro replicas, baseballs and a leather jacket courtesy of Pepsi Cola with the Pepsi logo and 4,000 emblazoned on it. There were free T-shirts given away and Mr. Slice, Papa John’s mascot posed for pictures with youngsters.
Mehta, 37, said Papa John’s coupons were also given away along with free samples of the restaurant’s primary product.
“Of course, we had plenty of free pizza,” Mehta said.
Mehta has spent most of his working life in local businesses in Nassau County. For the past 17 years he’s lived in Bellerose with his wife, Rone.
“I liked the idea of being a small businessman. I love to work with people,” Mehta said.
He said he thinks the new Papa John’s location is a “good fit” in the competitive local pizza store environment.
“We compete with other chain stores such as Domino’s and Pizza Hut,” Mehta said. “We believe we have the better ingredients and the better pizza.”
He had managed a wine and spirits store for the past four years. Prior to that, he was manager of a local telecommunications company. He also managed a Blockbuster Video outlet in Hicksville.
Mehta earned his bachelor’s degree from Stony Brook University with a double major in economics and information systems.
He said he realizes that operating a local pizza franchise store is a different challenge than he’s faced in previous jobs.
“You have to be motivated. You have to be energetic. You have to believe in the product you’re selling,” Mehta said.
He said the prices Papa John’s puts on its products, along with special offers, make its products more affordable than those of some local competitors.
“Given the tough economic times, price is a consideration,” Mehta said.
Beyond New Hyde Park, Mehta’s store delivers to Garden City Park, Floral Park, Lake Success, Glen Oaks, Garden City and parts of Bellerose and Stewart Manor.
It also offers the option of ordering for pick-up or delivery online at www.papajohns.com.
And as the National Football League’s official pizza sponsor, Papa John’s offer specials tied to pro football during the season.
