Frank pepe's Coupon
Why did Frankl Pepe's put a five dollar coupon in the recent mailer that goes to manchester and surrounding towns...
A promotion of that size...which basically means they are giving the product away for no profit indicates they may be slowing down...any ideas?
Had a Pizza at Modern on Tuesday in New Haven...very good crust, cheese and sauce were good...a good A- pizza...center was so droopy I had to use a spoon...
-
zoe p.
May 26, 2008 09:33 PM
Totally fascinating. I prefer Pepe's to Modern, but I've only been to the New Haven location.
On a similar topic (not to change the subject, but I thought this crowd might know . . .) what's up with Ashley's expansion? And why does Ashley's have such a love/hate reputation? I'm not wild about it, myself, but then I don't love ice cream . . .
-
-
Jimmy Cantiello
Mar 28, 2008 04:34 PM
Doing the coupon thing is not a good sign. I've been going to Pepe's in New Haven for close to 40 years. There has been an "ebb and flow" throughout that time. Sometimes the pies were "on the money", other times the pies "missed the mark". But all in all they've always put out an excellent pie. The fact that they feel that they have to offer a money-off coupon to draw in business is just sad. My one and only experience with the Fairfiield outpost of Pepe's was less than stellar. Now that I hear that Manchester hasn't been able to get their act together worries me. Maybe it's not a good idea to spread yourself too thin. Next time I feel like a Pepe's pie I'll head to Wooster Street.
›5 Replies-
re: Jimmy Cantiello
When I used to hear Pepe's, my first thoughts would be of a pizza shop, steeped in history, that churned out mythical pies from its aged oven. Now when I hear it, I (perhaps unfairly) think of a small chain restaurant (like a Duchess - but with quality pizza). I feel like they've lost something in this expansion plan - and I don't know if they'd ever get it back.
I still visit the New Haven location and, as I've posted previously, agree with Jimmy's assessment of Pepe's consistency. In my experience (which surely doesn't compete with Jimmy's 40) the consistency has been a minor issue - but has seemed moreso of an issue when they started focusing on the fairfield location. Perhaps Jimmy's observation prove that this was part of a normal ebb and flow - perhaps. (Rest assurred, you always get at least, a very good pizza - but visitors are going for that great pizza (which it isn't always - sometimes just very good)). I've wished they could have nailed the consistency issues in New Haven rather than focusing on growth goals and business plans for alternate locations.
Ever since the expansions, I feel like its become an ordinary place - almost soul-less. I feel, whether true or not, like its just a profit machine of some consortium of business owners, rather than a love of a family, and therein lies the problem in my mind. When you take away that luster (people coming to one location, waiting in lines, etc.) you hurt the mystique that's been built up over the years. If DeBeers put all the diamonds they had on the market, diamonds wouldn't be so sought after. While an extreme example - the 'hard-to-get' mystique of Pepe's has been eroding in exchange for extra revenues. Tickle-Me-Elmos can be found in goodwills for $1 these days.
I look at it as a good reminder what chasing profits can do. On paper, it surely looks like a wonderful idea. I'd be the first to say so. In reality land, when you open up alternate locations of a mystical place like this, you dilute the brand.
(As for the coupon - I'm guessing Pepe's Manchester has not met revenue targets and the owners are banking that its due to a lack of awareness and nothing else. As has been mentioned in the past - Manchester is submerged in a foodie flood and that may have something to do with it. That'd be my guess. In addition, Manchester is not in the New Haven to NYC line. In my experience, a Willington Pizza floats a lot of peoples boats in that area more than a Pepe's might.) Who knows.
They still make good pizza, and its still a neat place, but there is something missing. It would be sad to see Sally's, Modern, and others like them expand into faceless highly accessible, charmless chains. If Pepe's Manchester branch one day keels over - I won't be at all sad. It'll serve as a good lesson. Thats just how I see it.
-
re: Jestner
Jimmy Cantiello
Mar 29, 2008 04:23 AM
Good post, Jestner. I have a relative who owns a bunch of Dunkin Donuts franchises and he knows some of the Pepe family. When he told me several years ago that Pepe's was going to franchise I simply didn't believe him. Anyway, I think Pepe's problems, according to my brother-in-law, stem from the fact that several of the grandchildren (it could be as many as eight people involved) are fighting and disagreeing about which direction the Pepe's business should head. It may be a situation of "too many chiefs and not enough indians". Add that to the fact that people aside from the owners are making the pies nowadays which can in turn lead to a loss of quality control and that all important consistency. I've seen it at a lesser degree at Grimaldi's in Brooklyn and Lombardi's on Spring Street in Manhattan. One good thing about Lombardi's, though.Whenever I stop by I always see the owner in attendance. He may not be making the pies but he's overseeing the operation. You just can't stray too far from the original "formula" or you're product is going to suffer.
-
-
re: howaboutthat
About that comment I made of using a spoon at Modern...I do fold and stuff...so the spoon reference wasn;t a good one.
Any time I see the phrase "missed revenue targets" and food...I start to think chain...and I'll bet Frank Pepe was an indian all his lfe...he saw what the chiefs can do to a business...too bad about the family...Frank is spinning around in his tee pee about it
...one of them should plant themselves in manchester for a while.
-
re: howaboutthat
One more thing..about that coupon and profit margin...
a bag of four that cost $12 last August now goes for just under $30...and cheese that cost 2.50 a lb last august now is going for $4 a lb and I'll bet tears are shed every month when they have to pay the rent that the folks at the mall are asking.
That $5 is really shrinking fast...
-
-
-
-
-
Interesting topic!
I too received a $10 off coupon and was telling my friend about the coupon and had recommended she visit. I'm up near the Mass border so I wonder if distance has to do with coupon value?
She said her college age son had read an article about the original Frank Pepe's in New Haven and was talking it up and she mentioned that she thought she remembered me saying there was one in Manchester and he was surprised.
Maybe word isn't out enough, especially if a UConn student never heard of it.
They all seem to know there's a Red Robin in Manchester! -
The coupon we recieved in South Glastonbury is for $10 with no minimum purchase so I am heading there tonight and dinner for a family of five will only cost about $10 maybe less. It seems to be pretty slow there . We go often when we are in the area and typically 75% of the tables are empty! We go often because while not as good as in new Haven it is still very good and for $20 you could feed the entire family, tip, drink and all.
-
Great post sodagirl. Definitely sounds like some missed revenue targets for this money-grubbing sell-a-soul location in Manchester. I'm sure McDonalds was synonomous with a good burger at one point back in the day.
›2 Replies -
BiscuitBoy
Mar 28, 2008 01:33 PM
Couldn't agree more regarding Modern...Better pizza and no attitude.
-
-
EastRocker
Mar 28, 2008 01:21 PM
I suspect that they are not doing as well as they would like in manchester. trying to duplicate a legend is a risky business. don't kid yourself though, they will still make a profit with $5 off, dough and chesse doesn't cost that much.
Modern is probably the best pizza in New Haven. Your need for a spoon makes me suspect you are not from here, we have secret pizza eating techniques :)
›1 Reply
