Score one for the independents!
D'Andrea's pizza, a Caroline Street institution and Saratoga Today's 2009 "Local's Choice" readers poll winner for 'Best Pizza' in the region, has opened a second outlet for their unique cuisine in Ballston Spa on Tuesday, September 22.
D'Andrea's pizza, a Caroline Street institution and Saratoga Today's 2009 "Local's Choice" readers poll winner for 'Best Pizza' in the region, has opened a second outlet for their unique cuisine in Ballston Spa on Tuesday, September 22.
The new pizzeria restaurant is located at 223 Milton Avenue (Route 50) on the corner of Ford Road. The telephone number is 309-3533.
Owners Shawn Dowd and Rory Wilson had "been looking for opportunities in the county for awhile; one of our food purveyors came to us with a lead that the owner of the Ballston Spa Domino's franchise was getting tired of the whole system" back in June, Shawn said. "We looked over the shop, and a lot of the equipment was ready for us to use right away, so the fact that it was relatively turnkey was an advantage. We just needed to decorate it the 'D'Andrea's' way." A formal lease deal was struck in mid-July, and the owners felt it would be best to delay opening the new location until after they had gotten though the track season. For the time being, Shawn will manage the new store. But it is estimated that there will be 15-20 new or retained employees at the Ballston Spa D'Andrea's, including delivery drivers.
"We loved the profile of the area." Shawn said. "Not only is Ballston Spa growing but the area we will service (going south to Exit 11 into the Round Lake / Ballston Lake region) with the new chip plant coming, it seemed ideal. We also have a great established market in the Geyser Crest neighborhood that in time will be serviced more efficiently from the location in Ballston Spa."
A signature feature of D'Andrea's is displaying a variety of slices with various esoteric combinations of toppings ready to go and will definitely be incorporated into the new store. There will certainly be some experimentation with localized specials and promotions as time goes on, but for the most part Shawn, Rory and the D'Andrea's team intend to stay with what has worked for them so well to date.
Speaking about the challenge of competing in the crowded pizza market, Shawn said: "The big-gest challenge is going up against some multi-million dollar ad budgets... we do make sure to advertise locally, get our menus distributed but we have to be realistic and recognize that it would be the wrong arena to try and compete."
"Instead, we make sure that people know who we are. We are there in the store, in person, every day. We are in touch with, and want to be part of any community that we are located in. We are there backing team sponsorships, providing food for a fundraiser at cost, or something similar. You don't go through six layers of bureaucracy to get an answer, you talk to us. This sort of thing is what made us what we are."
Owners Shawn Dowd and Rory Wilson had "been looking for opportunities in the county for awhile; one of our food purveyors came to us with a lead that the owner of the Ballston Spa Domino's franchise was getting tired of the whole system" back in June, Shawn said. "We looked over the shop, and a lot of the equipment was ready for us to use right away, so the fact that it was relatively turnkey was an advantage. We just needed to decorate it the 'D'Andrea's' way." A formal lease deal was struck in mid-July, and the owners felt it would be best to delay opening the new location until after they had gotten though the track season. For the time being, Shawn will manage the new store. But it is estimated that there will be 15-20 new or retained employees at the Ballston Spa D'Andrea's, including delivery drivers.
"We loved the profile of the area." Shawn said. "Not only is Ballston Spa growing but the area we will service (going south to Exit 11 into the Round Lake / Ballston Lake region) with the new chip plant coming, it seemed ideal. We also have a great established market in the Geyser Crest neighborhood that in time will be serviced more efficiently from the location in Ballston Spa."
A signature feature of D'Andrea's is displaying a variety of slices with various esoteric combinations of toppings ready to go and will definitely be incorporated into the new store. There will certainly be some experimentation with localized specials and promotions as time goes on, but for the most part Shawn, Rory and the D'Andrea's team intend to stay with what has worked for them so well to date.
Speaking about the challenge of competing in the crowded pizza market, Shawn said: "The big-gest challenge is going up against some multi-million dollar ad budgets... we do make sure to advertise locally, get our menus distributed but we have to be realistic and recognize that it would be the wrong arena to try and compete."
"Instead, we make sure that people know who we are. We are there in the store, in person, every day. We are in touch with, and want to be part of any community that we are located in. We are there backing team sponsorships, providing food for a fundraiser at cost, or something similar. You don't go through six layers of bureaucracy to get an answer, you talk to us. This sort of thing is what made us what we are."
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