A Yelp campaign to raise funds for restaurants and other small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic just made some owners irate, forcing Yelp to hit the pause button. Yelp announced last Tuesday that it had partnered with GoFundMe “to provide a fast and simple way for independent businesses to … More
Pizza News
Pizzeria Owner Uses $2,000 Anonymous Gift to Help Employees Pay Bills
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Skyler Reeves, owner of Rosa’s Pizzeria in Prescott, Arizona, had plenty on his mind—laying off employees that he cares about, consolidating his three stores into one, suspending his catering service—when an unidentified woman walked into one of his shops on Tuesday and handed … More
Coronavirus News
Eric Greenwald of Grimaldi’s: Use Instagram Live to Connect With Customers During Pandemic
Eric Greenwald, president of Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, helped launch the brand in 2003 and has steered its growth to more than 40 locations in Arizona, California, Nevada, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, Texas, Wisconsin and New York. Through fundraising initiatives, Grimaldi’s donated more than $192,000 to Share Our Strength’s No … More
Top Story
Why Pizzerias Should Double Down on Marketing – Mindfully – During the Coronavirus
By Darren Easton, Vice President & Creative Director, The Cyphers Agency Now that the COVID-19 pandemic has added “social distancing” to the vernacular and made in-home dining Americans’ only choice, pizzeria operators find themselves in an interesting position. On the one hand, they’re facing operational challenges and the unexpected loss … More
Pizza News
Grotto Pizza to Provide Weekly Food Allowance to Laid-Off Employees
Grotto Pizza, with 19 locations in Delaware and Maryland, is launching an Employee Food Credit Fund to support its kitchen staff, delivery drivers, counter staff and servers temporarily laid off amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The company announced it is providing a weekly Grotto food allowance to all employees to help alleviate the burden … More
Featured Video
PMQ Live Update: How Pizzeria Owner Dan Uccello Is Coping With the Coronavirus
In the first installment of PMQ’s new PMQ Live Update video interview series, Dan Uccello, owner of three Flo’s Wood Fired Pizza stores in Grand Rapids, Michigan, talks to Brian Hernandez about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on his pizza restaurant. Forced to close down his dine-in service for … More
Pizza News
Big Three Pizza Chains Aim to Hire 60,000 New Workers
The country’s top pizza chains are looking to hire 60,000 new workers—and get them trained in a hurry—as the coronavirus pandemic drives more customers to delivery and carryout services. Pizza Hut, the No. 2 pizza chain behind Domino’s in terms of global retail sales, will lead the hiring charge, adding … More
Top Story
How Will the Senate’s Coronavirus Stimulus Bill Benefit Pizzerias?
Editor’s note: This story has been updated as of 11:05 p.m., Wednesday, March 25, with quotes from a National Restaurant Association executive. A Senate bill with bipartisan support would provide relief for many Americans—including restaurant owners and employees—affected by the coronavirus health crisis in the form of substantial increases in … More
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Stoner’s Pizza Joint Franchisee John Stetson Shares Advice for Weathering the Coronavirus Storm
As schools have closed down across Florida due to the coronavirus pandemic, low-income Broward County children who depend on school lunches are getting treated to the best free food of all—pizza, courtesy of serial entrepreneur John Stetson, owner of four Stoner’s Pizza Joint franchises in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Savannah … More
Pizza News
Pizzerias Offer Free ‘Stir Crazy Pizza Kits’ for Children Age 12 and Under
A pair of pizzerias on opposite ends of the country—Eepa’s Pizzeria in Bayfield, Colorado, and Rony’s Place Restaurant and Pizzeria in Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania—have begun offering free pizza meal kits to families with children age 12 and under. The Stir Crazy Pizza Kits aren’t just nourishing for the body. They … More
Top Story
Relief Centers in 11 Major Cities Offering Food, Essentials to Laid-Off Restaurant Workers
In response to massive layoffs in the hospitality industry due to the coronavirus pandemic, Edward Lee, the chef/owner of multiple restaurants in Louisville, Kentucky, and cofounder of the nonprofit, The LEE Initiative, has partnered with Maker’s Mark to spearhead relief efforts for restaurant workers in major cities across the U.S. … More
Coronavirus News
The Coronavirus Crisis: 8 More Survival Tips for Pizza Restaurant Operators
The PMQ team continues to reach out to industry operators and consultants to get moneymaking and cost-saving ideas that will help pizza restaurateurs survive the coronavirus crisis. Read our previous story on this topic here and check out eight more ideas below: 1. Create pizza meal kits. Located in Fort … More