Godfather's Pizza Coming to SP Shopping Center

Jeff Dunlap, a maintenance worker for The Plaza at Poplar center, removes pavement and rocks to make room for an outdoor patio for Godfather's Pizza July 23.

By TED M. NATT JR.

As of Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Hannah Sharpe

Mike Hill hopes to open a Godfather’s Pizza at The Park at Poplar off U.S. 1 in Southern Pines in October.

Godfather’s Pizza is coming to The Park at Poplar on U.S. 1 in Southern Pines, the first commercial tenant signed by Trident Marketing since Trident moved into the former Winn-Dixie shopping center last fall.

“I had wanted to come to Moore County first, but I’m glad we didn’t,” said Mike Hill, who opened a Godfather’s franchise in Rockingham last year. “We got all of the bugs worked out, so this opening should be a lot smoother.”

Hill, who grew up in Moore County and graduated from Pinecrest High School in 1986, recently signed a five-year lease and plans to spend six figures upfitting about 3,300 square feet of space formerly occupied by O’Mahoney’s Pub & Grill. He hopes to have a birthday party room and outdoor seating.

“I like the looks of the building and all of the parking spaces,” he said. “We hope to open in October, but first I’ve got to hire 35 employees and train them.”

Godfather’s Pizza was founded in 1973 in Omaha, Neb., and today has more than 600 locations in 40 states, ranging from traditional pizza restaurants to express locations in convenience stores, airports, truck plazas and schools.

The privately held company offers four types of crust — original, golden, mozza-loaded and thin — and five different sizes, as well as calzones, breadsticks, salads and chicken wings.

Hill, who plans to offer dine-in and carry-out, said corporate officials were “a little bit scared” about visibility because the restaurant does not front U.S. 1.

“But with our initial marketing budget we’ll get customers back here. It just may take a little time,” he said.

Hill said his decision to enter the competitive Moore County market was pushed up after he purchased equipment from the now-defunct Godfather’s Pizza in Asheboro.

“I wasn’t looking to come now, but the opportunity and the timing was perfect,” he said. “The equipment is practically brand new because they were only open for five months.”

Hill started looking for space earlier this year and turned to George Manley, a commercial broker with Kuester Real Estate Services in Pinehurst.

“The deal was done when I was with HSP Realty, because Mike signed the lease in late June,” Manley said. “It was great working with Mike through the process, and I’m sure his location here will be as successful as the one in Rockingham.”

Hill plans to add a third franchise in Hope Mills or Sanford in the future.

“But that’s probably about two years down the road,” he said. “I don’t want to spread myself too thin. It depends on how quickly this one takes off.”

Godfather’s Pizza is perhaps best known because former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain was its president and CEO from 1986 to 1995.

The company’s website says it “takes no position on political candidates, but we do make great pizza.”

The Park at Poplar shopping center is owned by Trident Marketing, which acquired the property six years ago and spent seven figures renovating it through a difficult economy.

Trident, which Steve Baldelli co-founded in 1986, started with the acquisition of Sycamore Lodge Resort, an upscale RV park and campground nestled on 194 acres near Jackson Springs. Sycamore Lodge and three other RV resorts in Ohio and Pennsylvania are operated by the company’s Travel Resorts of America subsidiary.

Trident’s other subsidiaries include Direct Sat TV, which acquires customers for Direct TV; Direct Sat Broadband, which acquires Internet customers for HughesNet and CLEAR; Advanced Direct Security, which acquires customers for ADT; and Service Valet, which acquires customers for N.E.W. Customer Service Companies.

Baldelli and his wife, Susan, president of Trident Designs, were out of the country this week and unavailable for comment.

Susan Baldelli has said the company’s goal is to consolidate its operations to the former Winn-Dixie space and rent the rest of the commercial space in the shopping center.

Contact Ted M. Natt Jr. at (910) 693-2474 or tnatt@thepilot.com.

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mmcl 9 months, 4 weeks ago

It's the Plaza at Poplar (although Park sounds nice, too.) The landscaping and building are equally lovely in this tucked away nook right off US 1. Finding it isn't difficult: just turn right at the stoplight on US 1 across from RiteAid and you're there. There's also a delicious Thai restaurant on the left just as you turn in off US 1, at the front of the property, The Spice Cafe. I highly recommend it.

AM910 9 months, 4 weeks ago

How many more pizza joints can southern Moore support?

lakeview 9 months, 4 weeks ago

Do we need another pizza place?

Bob's Pizza is best so as far as I'm concerned, there is only one pizza place anyway!

bbranche 9 months, 4 weeks ago

I hope they do good,because there was a Godfather's in Asheboro and it just close last week, and It was there for about six months.

FightFireWithFire 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Kind of makes you wonder how many coffee shops we need as well.....or bars, for that matter...

teufelhunden 9 months, 3 weeks ago

I would really like an Indian restaurant like Nawab's in Winston-Salem to come here!!! Lots and lots of pizza joints here already!

Nezumi 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Teufelhunden - superb idea! I'd frequent such an establishment at least 3x a week! Chicken tikka masala + naan and a Kingfisher. Yummmm.

Bflat 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Will there be a small scale branch location in Carthage? RD is getting hungry and so far there are only 11 eating places in the Town of Carthage.

RD28327 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Lots of pizza places in Moore County, and to Mr. BFlat, Pizza Hut in Carthage usually takes care of my pizza fix.

CaddieMaster 9 months, 3 weeks ago

There's a lot of bad pizza in Moore County. For someone who has had high quality pizza and lived elsewhere, it's hard to get excited about anyplace in this area - the bar is pretty low. I don't know about Godfather's, but glad to try another one...

scotsfire 9 months, 3 weeks ago

I have always enjoyed Godfather's at the beach so it'd be a nice change of pace...but the best pizza by far in Moore County is Village Pizza in Pinebluff. I live on the opposite side of the county and will gladly drive to the 'Bluff for some great pizza.

Courseaire 9 months, 3 weeks ago

We could use a few more Gentlemen's Clubs.

cantstandya 9 months, 3 weeks ago

CaddieMaster, Very true.

buskwon 9 months, 3 weeks ago

CaddieMaster , I agree There are alot of pizza places but the only one worth a damn is Vito's, all the others are cookie cutter pizza joints that make the same old tired pizza .

buskwon 9 months, 3 weeks ago

I tried the Mellow Mushroom the other day for the first time and was very disapointed, the pizza was subpar at best, I do not know how they can keep there doors open selling such a plain pizza, It must be all the beer, I have never had Godfathers pizza but I gladly welcome them to the area, They should do well with such lousy competition.

madstork 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Valenti's in Vass...worth the 5 miute drive

TooHot 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Wonder how the Rockingham location is doing, cause if it were me, I'd take the hint from the Asheboro failure. Hard to believe another pizza place can turn a profit here. It's like building another golf course.

cantstandya 9 months, 3 weeks ago

TooHot, I'm sure once he reads your comment the project will shut down, having your business exsperience and knowledge he would be foolish not to take your advice.

clarabelle 9 months, 3 weeks ago

" madstork - Valenti's in Vass...worth the 5 miute drive"

Amen to that!

DingoMike 9 months, 3 weeks ago

The best pizza is found in the wonderful town of Pinebluff at The Village Pizza. Bruce will make any kind of pizza your little heart can desire. The tomoto sauce is all made fresh ans I don't mind the drive from near Sandhills to Pinebluff to get the best stuff. Go Bruce!!!!1

cantstandya 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Valenti's of all has the best, Vito's ranks right up there also, it takes an Italian to make real pizza, and Steve taught his son well.

mooremedic 9 months, 3 weeks ago

It's great that Mike is coming home to open a Godfathers....they have good pizza, and yes we have an abundance of pizza but most are subpar. I'll cast another vote as Vito's having the best pizza and Seven Lakes Pizza as being in the top 3. I haven't eaten at Village Pizza in Pinebluff in several years, but it used to be great also....

Flabbergasted 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Let's hear it for my peeps down the street at Ledo's! They have great pizza!!

JD 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Vito's Sicilian - best in the county.

That is all.

herecomesthescience 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Bob's, head and shoulders above the rest. And a bonus, the inside of the place is one of the few true "original", unchanged, unique, and local places left. How people regularly eat Pizza Hut, Dominos, Little Ceasar's, and the chains are beyond me.

Hembloche 9 months, 3 weeks ago

@ buskwon - Mellow Mushroom is actually really good, just not this location. Don't know what's going on over there, but the service and food are both subpar compared to other Mellow's i've been to. Ledo's is disgusting. Horrible, horrible, horrible sauce. I'd vote either Vito's or Bob's, depends on the mood i'm in. Gonna have to check out Valenti's and Village Pizza some day.

eflat7 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Hope Godfather's does well. My votes are for Village Pizza in Pinebluff, or Vito's Sicilian.

Bflat 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Vito's Sicilian is rated 5 stars .

FightFireWithFire 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Teufelhunden: "I would really like an Indian restaurant like Nawab's in Winston-Salem to come here!!! Lots and lots of pizza joints here already!"

Nezumi:

"Teufelhunden - superb idea! I'd frequent such an establishment at least 3x a week! Chicken tikka masala + naan and a Kingfisher. Yummmm."

I agree! I love Indian food!!!!! I have been saying this for years, by the way, since I came from VA and there are plenty of Nawabs to go around.

leslienagy 9 months, 3 weeks ago

I look forward to opening day! We used to drive 40 miles to Chapel Hill to eat at Godfather's every Friday night. Hope ours will be just as good.

peterprints 9 months, 3 weeks ago

How did the guy who never found "Ubecky-becky-beckastan" ever find us? With all these recent robberies and killings and now Herman Cain, we've, unfortunately, gone mainstream...be afraid...be very afraid!

peterprints 9 months, 3 weeks ago

PS: If Godfather's pizza ever tasted as good as Village Pizza in Pine Bluff, he'd still be in the running.

Flabbergasted 9 months, 3 weeks ago

I dont want to leave out Bob's Pizza! Great pizza!!!!! I Love Bob Pizza!!!!!

countryboymoco 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Pizza Cafe in Pinehurst has the best pizza in town. Bobs pizza has the second best pizza.

cantstandya 9 months, 3 weeks ago

One good thing about this article,every pizza joint in this area got some free advertising, and some ratings,a couple I have not tried but probably will after reading some comments.

Thatcher 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Vito's is my favorite, but I'll certainly try Godfather's. Then I'll return to Vito's. And if Godfather's is good, I'll return to them, too. Then I'll return again to Vito's. Cheers!

teufelhunden 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Teufelhunden - superb idea! I'd frequent such an establishment at least 3x a week! Chicken tikka masala + naan and a Kingfisher. Yummmm.

Haha-That's what I get! Man, I could do the backstroke in that sauce!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

teufelhunden 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Mellow Mushroom does not know how to make a good crust. It has always been undercooked and doughy when I've gone.

Don't like Ledo's pizza either but I really like their wings and pasta.

teufelhunden 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Back in the day, Pizza Inn (Georgia) was actually good and when I walked in that place my mouth would water like crazy - it always smelled so good in there and it was always worth the wait.

Jason 9 months, 3 weeks ago

The fact that people think Vito's is the best local pizza tells you all you need to know about the "low bar" alluded to earlier.

Nezumi 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Teufelhunden - any Indian food suggestions up in Raleigh/Durham/CH area - I've not found any worthwhile. BTW - I just got back from SE Asia and had great curries there - I'm kind of going through withdrawal now. We seriously need a good Indian joint!

JD 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Nezumi there are a couple of wonderful Indian restaurants in Cary. One in particular is in a small shopping center. Sweetheart took me there for my birthday and I wasn't impressed with the decor or location, but the food was amazing and worth the drive. I'll ask her later what the name was and post.

Nezumi 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Thanks JD - that would be much appreciated - I'll not care either about the decor if the food is great.

herecomesthescience 9 months, 3 weeks ago

speaking of dining, does anybody know what is going on with the old Lonestar Steak place next to Mellow Mushroom?

teufelhunden 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Nezumi-If you're ever in Norfolk, VA Rajput Indian Cuisine is just insane-located in Ghent it always gets Best of ...awards.

Nezumi 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Well noted, Teufelhunden - thanks!

uwharrieheirlooms 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Godfathers in Asheboro failed because it was crammed way back in a corner of the shopping center where no one could see it. If the Southern Pines store is not visible from the highway I would suggest a massive ad campaign and signs that people can see. I loved the old Godfathers in Rockingham from about 25 years ago. I hope this one will be as good!

Godfather's Pizza Coming to SP Shopping Center

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