THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay is about to become a Papa John’s town.
Entrepreneurs Bryan McGauley and Jodi Babcock on Tuesday confirmed later this summer they will open the city’s first Papa John’s franchise on Waterloo Street, the first of two they plan to open over the course of the next year.
A second location is planned for 2022 at a yet-to-be-determined north side location.
“It’s great food,” said McGauley, a longtime pizzeria veteran, asked why he chose the Papa John’s brand to bring to Thunder Bay.
“It’s a great company. When we first made contact with Papa John’s, they were great people to deal with. As you probably already know, Shaquille O’Neill owns a few of these in the Atlanta, Ga. area. If you’ve got a big name like that attached to your company, it’s got to be good stuff.”
Started in Indiana in 1983, the Papa John’s brand has gone global, with more than 5,000 locations in nearly 40 countries, including more than 150 in Canada alone.
The Waterloo Street location will be the company’s first venture into the Thunder Bay market.
“They’re in a lot of countries,” McGauley. “So to have a big name like that in over 40 countries, that says something. Our motto is better ingredients, better pizza. We’re really looking forward to getting this location open and our second location up in Port Arthur within a year.”
It’s something different, he said, noting he and his wife have a combined 43 years in the pizza business. When they first tasted Papa John’s pizza, they knew it was special, he said.
“We worked at quite a few of them in Thunder Bay and outside of Thunder Bay. We tried Papa John’s for the first time when we went (to Toronto) and the food was phenomenal. It really, really was,” McGauley said.
“I said to my wife at that point in time, ‘Thunder Bay needs a Papa John’s.’ Their garlic parmesan sauce is phenomenal. They make things like homemade garlic knots and it’s just really great food.”
McGauley said they’ll have a driver dedicated to their branded delivery vehicle, and between eight to 10 contracted drivers, along with 10 to 14 staff members when the restaurant is operational, likely in August – although they’re aiming for July.
The restaurant will be delivery and pick-up only, with no dine-in option available.
