The pandemic has left a lot of business owners looking for ways to cut costs and reinvent their operations, but Papa John’s franchisee Hany Sorial didn’t want to abandon his community in the process. So, when he decided to downsize to a smaller location, he ended up right across the street. Sorial has owned the Papa John’s at 759 S. 25th Street in Easton since 2003. That restaurant will be shut down for just a few days while his new location opens at 754 St. 25th St. Sorial expects the new location to open in late 2021 or early 2022.
“I spent the last 20 years in Easton. My kids were born here, and I have a connection, so I wanted to stay here and continue being a part of the community,” Sorial told What Now Philadelphia.
Sorial’s current space comes in at about 2,300 sq. ft. The new location measures about 1,600 sq. ft. and will ditch the dining area to accommodate a modern pick-up counter area that makes delivery and takeout easy. The building, previously a printing shop, is currently being renovated and outfitted to covert the space into a kitchen and restaurant operation that conforms to Papa John’s standards.
“I’m just really excited to offer Papa John’s pizza in the community here. We look forward to hiring new team members and continue serving the community,” said Sorial.
Sorial said he’s also very grateful to his existing employees for all their hard work and dedication, especially through the pandemic. According to their website, the first Papa John’s pizza was made in a broom closet in Jeffersonville, IN, and now has more than 5,000 locations in 45 countries and territories.
