Oakland’s love for pizza will be put to the test with the impending arrival of a new Pizza Hut in the center of town.
In the heart of October, National Pizza Month, Oakland gave the green light to renovate a century old building on Ramapo Valley Road to accom0date a new Pizza Hut.
The Pizza Hut chain proudly promotes how they are the largest consumer of cheese in the world, consume 500,000,000 pounds of pepperoni, and 700,000,000 pounds of tomatoes, and soon Oakland residents, commuters, and other transients will be able to enjoy piece of this pie.
The new Pizza Hut, take out only, will be located at 388 Ramapo Valley Road near the corner of Yawpo Avenue and the ramp for Route 287, making it easily accessible from the highway. The corporate franchise will be within walking distance of the independently owned and operated Oakland Pizza, Frank’s Pizza, Junior’s Pizza, Tony’s Brothers Pizza, and Cafe L’Amore which all serve pizza, take out and dine-in.
There is concern amongst some residents in Oakland that an additional pizza establishment is not an improvement to Oakland’s downtown area, especially a national chain. Residents of a small town in Pennsylvania felt similarly this past September as they rallied to support a local restaurant that was threatened with displacement by a Pizza Hut franchise. The support of residents, the town’s mayor, and a Think Local campaign helped ward off what many believed to be a negative addition to their main street.
Think Local campaigns have been implemented throughout New Jersey, America, and globally, as small communities perceive a threat to their local economies by corporate chains. Most promotions focus on the benefits of keeping dollars in the local economy, and the significant support for local charities that independently owned businesses offer. Just recently, the Oakland Education Foundation benefited by partnering with Tony’s Brothers Pizza, Frank’s Pizza, and Cafe L’Amore, but all the existing pizza businesses involve themselves in supporting various schools community organizations.
Now there will be 6 pizzerias within less than a mile from each other that are pretty much on the same road. Hooray for america
We should all protest and picket Pizza Hut in Oakland.
A rateable is a rateable and apparently the demographics study conducted by Pizza Hut Corporation indicates that there is a substantial amount of pizza being bought and consumed in Oakland (and surrounding area). If not, they would look to move in elsewhere. I have eaten Pizza Hut before and I don’t think any of the Ma-Pa established pizzeria’s in Oakland have anything to worry about especially if their clientele has a discerning palate.
I agree, Pizza Hut is gross so i won’t be eating there when I have sooooo many other choices for good pizza. If we need to allow another fast food place how about something different, I don’t know maybe some real food.
Ok, let me see if I got this right, a small business owner is willing to invest his hard earned money in Oakland and has followed all the regulations to do so. He will employ local people to make and deliver the product he thinks residents will but. He will buy some local products and services to support his business and people are questioning this? This man is living the American Dream. We should be applauding him. If you don’t like the product then take your cash elsewhere. How many banks in town do you use; how many nail salons; but would you rather have choice and competition or empty store fronts. I think it’s much better to embrace the new businesses and fill in the vacant store fronts and buy local. Yes, the Pizza Hut will buy more local services and contribute more to the local economy than an empty store front. So now, instead of driving to Ramsey to get Pizza Hut, I can spend my money in Oakland.
Martin,
Mama mia, your spirit is in the right place, but do you think Pizza Hut will be shopping tomatoes from Abma’s or Zeytenia, the pie crust from ShopRite, the parmesan cheese from the Market Basket ? …. Nice thought, but this is pretty much processed food and it will be sourced from vendors who supply ‘Pizza Hut’ on a mass level.
Potential traffic jam should be a concern, the space behind the building is tight to begin with. Despite the fact that it’s a to -go establishment only, it will not take more than a handful of cars , coming and going, to create a jam.
Meantime, may the best pizza prevail . Competition is good.
More pizza? We’re desperate for a decent chinese place that delivers. The only one in town is a restaurant, charges way too much, serves too little and doesn’t deliver. C’mon folks…….there’s an opportunity here. To top it off, Pizza Hut sucks. Why would anyone want Pizza Hut fake pizza when we have Frank’s, Tony Brother’s and Oakland Pizza – all of which are great.
Forgot to mention Juniors. You can’t go wrong with Pizza in Oakland, unless you go to Pizza Hut. That is just plain wrong.
PIzza Hut is a franchise. They don’t buy local anything. They are obligated to buy what the franchise dictates they buy and that ain’t Shoprite. It’s some wharehouse God knows where. You can’t compare Velveeta to fresh parmigiana; can’t compare hand tossed crust to frozen cardboard. Competition? Bring in a decent craft storelike a Rag Shop type and a take out chinese place. That’ll get the place moving.
What will the new Pizza Hut buy/spend that is local: Labor, utilities, rent, cleaning supplies, carpenters, electricians, pest control, HVAC work. If you talk to any existing Pizza place, they will tell you the cost of the pizza is a small fraction of their expenses. Bottom line, as long as the owner is abiding by the Oakland regulations, Oakland is Open for Business.
More pizza? How about an Indian or Thai or mid-east restaurant? Does this represent the mentality of Oaklandites? 6 pizzarias in a square is way too much. $15. 00 for mediocre inconsistent pizza. And they are mediocre at best. Had them all.