Papa John's Invades Neighborhood Pizzeria's Turf

Posted by Ed Levine, August 6, 2007 at 8:00 AM

In a move that reflects local food and national trends and the de-evolution of the foodscape, Papa John's is opening a store in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, right next door to a beloved local pizzeria, Johnny's:

"This is the best pizza in the area," said Roger Ramos, a postal worker who grew up nearby. "Papa John's is just generic. Why are they coming here? Greed? I don't know."
"If we get short on cheese or tomatoes, we go to him or he comes to us," said Gino Campese, the owner of Scotti's Pizza. "When it's time to raise prices, we get together. There's room for everybody. But not for Papa John's."

Pizza lovers in other New York neighborhoods have also experienced the chain incursion. Domino's has a store on West 72nd Street, but its closest competitor is a few stores down. And, unlike Johnny's, that competitor is itself a minichain serving generic pizza, City Pie.

House of Pizza and Calzones in Red Hook, home to fine slices and perhaps the best traditional (fried) calzones in the city, has had to compete with a Papa John's for a few years now. In the end, people will vote with their taste buds and their wallets. My guess is that high school kids and others looking to save money will get their pizza from Papa John's, which will undoubtedly undersell Johnny's. But anyone who wants an honest New York slice on Fifth Avenue in Sunset Park will continue to patronize and support Johnny's.

Johnny's Pizzeria
Address: 5806 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11220 (b/n 58th and 59th streets; map)
Phone: 718-492-9735

9 Comments

Tags: Brooklyn, chain pizza, Johnny's Pizza, NYC, Papa John's, Sunset Park

9 Comments:

In Astoria, "Papa John's" opened up next to a local "John's Pizza." Both have stayed opened about 2 years now. I don't think the people eating at Papa John's are the same ones who'd eat at John's anyway.

josh! at 9:25AM on 08/06/07

This should be illegal.

seyo at 9:42AM on 08/06/07

Papa John's is high prices for lousy pizza. They're only somewhat better than Dominos (mainly because of the dippable crusts and free garlic sauce), and for that marginal improvement they charge a LOT more. Johnny's isn't in any danger.

Smylie at 10:22AM on 08/06/07

"When it's time to raise prices, we get together. There's room for everybody. But not for Papa John's."

So price collusion is OK, I guess?

Adam Kuban at 10:48AM on 08/06/07

Papa John's was a staple of my college years, but now that I live in Brooklyn I wouldn't dream of ordering from them - not when I'm within walking distance of Fortunata's II.

Although I will admit that I love their garlic dipping sauce.

guevara284 at 12:36PM on 08/06/07

pizza price fixing! not on my watch.
annie the antitrust lawyer

rocket88 at 3:25PM on 08/06/07

I love the ignorant postal worker: "Papa John's is just generic. Why are they coming here? Greed? I don't know."

Why do you think Johnny's or Scotti's are open? Why do you go to work? People are so economically illiterate it amazes me.

And Adam Kuban is absolutely correct.

Papa John's is fairly pricey. As long as Johnny's and Scotti's offer a superior prodcut they have nothing to worry about.

SAMiller at 5:14PM on 08/06/07

Johnny's Pizza is the best!!!! Excellent food, Great service, John and Rocco are a true inspiration to us all in Sunset Park Family. The pizza is always fresh not frozen like Papa John's.. Who is the idiot who GAVE them a lease.

PizzaLover at 3:22PM on 08/10/07

Sunset Park stands behind Johnny's Pizza

PizzaLover at 6:24AM on 08/16/07

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