The pizza scene in Biddeford, Maine—population: ~22,000—punches above its weight. Once a Northern New England mill town, Biddeford’s downtown revitalization has been aided by popular pizza shops like Pizza by Alex, Peng’s Pizza Pies and Coletti’s Pizza Factory.
Which is why at least one Biddeford pizzeria owner was none too happy to learn that Domino’s might be moving into a location across the street from their shop, Pizza by Alex.
According to the Portland Press Herald, the controversy began when the Maine Department of Transportation decided to launch a project to redo the city’s Elm Street corridor. As part of that project, the state claimed eminent domain over the building where Domino’s had operated since late 2020. The building will be demolished in order to install a four-way intersection.
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Since learning the news, Domino’s franchisee Tiffani Ruszenas has been trying to find a new location. One of the proposed sites is across the street from Pizza by Alex and would require a zoning change in order to house Domino’s. During a hearing regarding the proposed zoning change, Pizza by Alex owner Steph Mantis voiced concerns.
According to the Press Herald, Mantis acknowledged to the city council that the issue at hand isn’t necessarily that Pizza by Alex and Domino’s compete for customers. It’s more an issue of whether or not Domino’s belongs downtown, in a district largely populated by independent restaurants and businesses.
“I have no problem with Domino’s existing in the city,” Mantis said. “But the city rezoning a property to accommodate a national chain in the front yard of their local pizzeria” is shortsighted, the Press Herald reported.
From a different perspective, David Galbraith, the Biddeford city planner, said that all business is good business. He believes that, because the Domino’s franchisee owner is a member of the Biddeford community, it should be thought of as a local business rather than a national chain.
“We don’t like losing anyone,” he said at the meeting. “We need to look out for our local businesses and support them any way we can.”
Despite the words of encouragement from Galbraith, Ruszenas isn’t exactly happy with the situation either. In late 2020, Ruszenas moved her Domino’s franchise location into the space that is going to be demolished soon. She said she was not made aware of the impending construction project until the past few months. Even with the fair value compensation she’ll receive in exchange for the building, she said she stands to lose a lot of money, especially if she cannot find a new location that fits her needs.
“I’m going to take a $500,000 loss because nobody said ‘Don’t buy this property,’” she said at the meeting. “This could single-handedly tank my entire company.”