John Bower had waited for 10 years to open a Domino’s Pizza franchise near Kutztown, but was held back until the company’s area agreements dissolved.
“It’s a nice little town,” said Bower, 44, of Williamsport, Lycoming County. He said his father was a property manager of the shopping center on Constitution Boulevard so he was familiar with Kutztown.
On New Year’s Eve Bower finally realized his goal with the opening of a Domino’s storefront in Maxatawny Township in Maxatawny Marketplace, the shopping center anchored by a Giant supermarket.
“We are doing very well,” Bower said. “We are far exceeding what we thought we would do.”
The store seats 10 and is geared for takeout and delivery. Customers can watch the pizzas being made in what the company calls a “pizza theater” design.
The shop is near Kutztown University, which has been a draw for a new Dunkin’ Donuts franchise on Main Street in Kutztown.
“I thought it would be a college-based business but it’s not,” Bower said. “We have a lot of local residents.”
The store did meet with some resistance because it was a franchise of a national chain, but Bower said he followed zoning and development rules. He said being part of a shopping center also smoothed the way because it was expected that franchises might locate there.
Domino’s is the third business besides Giant to locate in the shopping center, which opened in February 2013. It’s located is next to SuperCuts and Subway in the shopping center. Two store fronts and three pad sites remain unoccupied in the shopping center, which is owned by Port Washington, N.Y.-based Cedar Realty Trust.
Bower also operates a Domino’s franchise in downtown Lebanon, which recently won the city beautification award, he said.
Bower, who has a degree in architecture from Penn State University, started with Domino’s as a driver in high school and had a franchise in Harrisburg, which he sold.
He said he loved running the pizza business.
“Every day is something different,” Bower said. “2014 was a big year for us.”
Contact Lisa Scheid: 610-371-5049 or lscheid@readingeagle.com
