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Special delivery: Michigan man opening Southwest Florida pizza parlors
ED MATTHEWS / Staff
Travis Anderson, front, and Mark Palmisano with Commercial Appliance Parts & Service work to stack the last of three pizza ovens inside the kitchen of the new Jet's Pizza franchise in Estero on Thursday, July 24, 2008. According to the general managers, it will be two to three weeks until the Estero location is completed, while the Naples restaurant, which is also still being built, will take a bit more time.
ED MATTHEWS / Staff
Jet's Pizza is a new restaurant franchise opening to residents of Southwest Florida. General Managers Randy Emery and Mike Esparza will operate two Jet's Pizza locations, one at 3400 Radio Road in Naples and on in the shopping center on the corner of Corkscrew Road and Three Oaks Boulevard in Estero.
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On a visit to Marco Island two years ago, Michigander Tom Jakubczak had a hard time finding a tasty pizza.
He drove 25 miles to Naples in search of one — and the pizza he found wasn’t anything like his favorite back home.
“I was not really satisfied,” he recalls. Neither was his middle daughter, Juliana, who was vacationing with him.
So, he’s decided to bring their favorite pizza to Southwest Florida.
Jakubczak, 48, and other Michigan investors plan to open two Jet’s Pizza take-out-only restaurants in Collier and Lee counties over the next two months.
“Everything is made fresh every day,” he said. “Southwest Florida hasn’t seen a pizzeria like this.”
One day, there could be more than a dozen of the restaurants in the area.
“We want to put 15 of them in and around Naples, Fort Myers and Bonita Springs,” said Jakubczak, a six-degree black belt, licensed builder, certified registered nurse anesthetist and new Jet’s franchisee.
The other investors in the local restaurants are his friends and business associates. They include two of his former contractors, a tile setter and a drywaller, who have moved here to help run the restaurants after going to the Jet’s pizza school.
Local management also includes one of Jakubczak’s black-belt students, who owned another pizza chain in Michigan for more than two decades. Jakubczak has one of the largest Tae Kwon Do schools in his state.
“You can teach anybody to make a pizza. But you can’t teach anybody customer service, and honesty and good values. That is what you want when you are looking for great people,” Jakubczak said.
The chain, Jet’s America Inc., founded in 1978 in Michigan, began expanding into other states in 2002. It now has 156 restaurants in Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee.
The restaurant’s slogan is “Life is short. Eat Better Pizza.” One of its specialties is an eight-corner pizza made by putting two small pizzas side-by-side.
“The way we make it, every piece has a corner because people seem to like corners,” Jakubczak said.
The chain’s four owners, who promise “customer satisfaction,” want to have restaurants in every state. There are 12 more coming soon, including the two in Southwest Florida.
Both of the local restaurants are getting built out. The first will open in August in the Estero Town Commons at the southeast corner of Corkscrew Road and Three Oaks Parkway. The other will start operating a few weeks later at 3400 Radio Road in East Naples, in the shopping center just east of Airport Road, across the street from the Naples Municipal Airport.
Workers are crawling all over the restaurants trying to get them open.
The Naples restaurant has a generator for back-up power so, if a hurricane strikes and the power goes out, the store — as long as it’s still standing — should still be able to feed hungry customers.
“We will be able to serve 350 pizzas an hour,” Jakubczak said. “That would feed about 1,500 people an hour.”
He expects the Jet’s Pizza name to “spread like wildfire” once local residents discover it.
“It’s more affordable. It’s customer-friendly and people are going to love it,” he said.
“Once I got you hooked, I got you hooked,” he added.
Rob Peecher, 42, who owned Peecher’s Pizza in Dearborn, Mich., for more than 20 years, will oversee the operations as the general manger for the local restaurants. He’s also a part-owner.
He closed his mom-and-pop pizzeria in March 2006 because business slowed so much with a downturn in Michigan’s economy. Most of his clients were in the automotive industry, and they thinned out as the industry “started taking some bumps,” he said.
Peecher said he’s always liked Jet’s pizza himself. The pizza dough is made from scratch daily.
“We don’t scorch our pizzas,” Peecher said. “It takes a little longer to cook them. But it takes time for them to develop.”
He said the most popular pizza at Jet’s is probably its deep dish. The restaurant also offers subs, salads and wings.
Randy Emery, who owned a tile business for 12 years in Michigan, is one of the store managers and will be an owner-operator for Jet’s in Southwest Florida.
He worked in the construction with Jakubczak for eight years. But his business also turned with the economy.
“Up north, the economy is based on manufacturing, and since all the manufacturing is going overseas, the economy basically up there is done,” said Emery, 42. “It’s gone.”
Though restaurants here have suffered too, with many closing in the past year because of a housing slump and general economic slowdown, Emery doesn’t seem concerned at all.
“Jet’s is very successful wherever it goes,” he said.
Jakubczak isn’t worried either. “Shoes and fast food are recession-proof,” he said.
With a $15 Jet’s pizza you can feed a family of four and have a few slices left over for junior’s lunch, he pointed out.
The two new restaurants will have nearly 50 employees. About 35 of them have already been hired.
“We just had a huge job fair,” Jakubczak said. “It was a complete success. We are going to make a huge impact.”
For more information on Jet’s, visit jetspizza.com.
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Look out, Aldo's and Aurelio's! Competition's coming...
#1 Posted by lizzyb on July 24, 2008 at 9:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think "jets" is gonna beat Aurelio's
#2 Posted by ajc239 on July 24, 2008 at 10:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jets will definitely beat El Primos pizza especially if great customer service is served up with sliced pizza. Sounds like a great combination.
#3 Posted by beetlejuice on July 24, 2008 at 10:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hi beetlejuice, you have been missed on the circle blog which is winding on and on. I am huge pizza fan so I checked out this story. Jakubczak, has enough professions to start an entire mall. Hope his business does well.
$15 pizza for 4 AND leftovers sounds great.
Nice website. So when do they open?
#4 Posted by BlueTonguedVole on July 24, 2008 at 11:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great...this is exactly what Naples needs - more pizza shops.
#5 Posted by babbas on July 24, 2008 at 11:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe, while they are at it, they might want to open up a Mexican restaurant, because we don't have enough of those either.
#6 Posted by babbas on July 24, 2008 at 11:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
or maybe a chinese restaurant, because we don't have enough of those, either. Maybe another Starbucks, because we don't have enough of those either. My point - WE DON'T NEED MORE PIZZA... GET SOME ORIGINALITY.
#7 Posted by babbas on July 24, 2008 at 11:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BTV, I missed you, too. I was out finding myself.
Still looking for my brain. :-)
Ordered ONCE at El Primos...and my debit card didn't work...didn't have cash either...after attempting the transactions six times, the cashier gave up and I left.....without MY PIZZA...or my wings....or my side salad. TRAVESTY!
Went to Publix in same plaza....debit card worked....frozen pizza purchased...and I was thrilled kinda sorta.
Tried to call not so PRIMO manager...no one answers the number. Think I finally found a number on the website, but I never heard back from a manager.
Although this Michigan guy shares Dominoes home state BTV....so he has this going for him.....along with multi-tasking.
But I will be careful when I order pizza there...one never knows if the debit card machine will work.
#8 Posted by beetlejuice on July 25, 2008 at 12:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I actually ate some pizza last week from "Jet's" while I was in Michigan. LOL
It was awesome for chain pizza. However, nothing beats Aurelio's!
But jet's is better than Papa Johns or Dominoes. Dominoes is the nastiest of them all.
#9 Posted by naplesjeff on July 25, 2008 at 1:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish some of these pizza places would have Steak Hogies on thier menu's ! Up North every pizza place has steak hogies.
#10 Posted by n7lima on July 25, 2008 at 2:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am glad to see how many people like Aurelio's, we cant wait for the new store in the Gulf Coast Town Center!!!!!!!!!!!!
#11 Posted by johnnyd097 on July 25, 2008 at 6:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope it's good...no good pizza in my area (Bayshore) since that old boxer guy sold the Roma's off of Davis Blvd..that was the best! Hey Jet's...make sure you're open on Sunday unlike most of the others...I'll try you out a time or two.
#12 Posted by Ajma on July 25, 2008 at 7:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Somebody at NDN must have a thing for Jets. This is a huge article for opening a pizza joint!You'd think Paris, Britney, and Nicole got into the business....
#13 Posted by Messina on July 25, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What's next in the rotation. Illinois woman opens pizza joint?
#14 Posted by cousinjed on July 25, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I've been watching for the one to open in Estero. It looks to be getting pretty close. Yippee :)
#15 Posted by Jetaime on July 25, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually, the frozen ones I order from Giordano's in Chicago beat them all. OK, the shipping cost is more than the pizza cost, but they do stay nicely in my freezer 'til I bake them.
Can't beat real Chicago pizza. Sigh....
#16 Posted by lizzyb on July 25, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The only real pizza is a brick oven pizza.
#17 Posted by rugcare on July 25, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We finally had a chance to try both Aldo's and Aurelio's; I guess it is a matter of taste but Aldo's cheese is well, not up to snuff and their sausage... isn't REAL Italian Sausage.
Aurelio's is, if you really like grease, greasy.... greasy .... greasy and the crust isn't anything special.
Now the best pizza we have found thus far can be had at Gatsbys... behind Walgreens in the strip center at Wiggins and 41 North Naples. This is the closest we have had to "home made" pizza. The ingredients are top notch although, they too, use a type of sausage that isn't quite what we were used to in Chicago.
So, if you don't like the assembly line pizza chain offerings... head to Gatsbys.
#18 Posted by RunSilentRunDeep on July 25, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lizzyb... just saw your post... RIGHT ON!! We are ordering today! Didn't know they shipped.
If any of you want to splurge and go to Pizza Heaven, call Chicago for a Giordano's delivery!
#19 Posted by RunSilentRunDeep on July 25, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel compelled to speak up for Peruzzi's Pizza.
#20 Posted by greathornedlizard on July 25, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nothing beats Napoli on the Bay!
Great crust, and excellent toppings...
#21 Posted by DGNR8 on July 25, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
good luck on this venture, with the economy in the sink here in SWFL, the last thing I'd invest in is a restaurant, too many closures already.
#22 Posted by Naples_zen on July 25, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Run,
It's so worth it! I found out several years ago that you could order online, and I think I ordered 3 (remember how big they are!!). Find a really good, sharp knife (I think I used my electric knife?), and quarter each one and put into freezer bags. When you're ready to eat some, let it defrost (I guess you could cook it frozen but I think I had more success with it defrosted) and bake.
So good.....
#23 Posted by lizzyb on July 25, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Has anybody had Mangino's pizzeria on Immokalee Road across from Sam's? This guy opened his pizza place last summer. They have Chicago style, New York style pizza and an olive oil bar. They also sell fresh cheese. Just wondering if anybody has tried them.
#24 Posted by idnew1 on July 25, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cosmo's margarita pie.......is the best in town.
#25 Posted by CaptSam on July 25, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There is a frozen pizza sold by SweetBay and Costco called " Homerun Pizza". It is made by a Chicago Pizzeria and it is very good! I follow the box instructions and add a little extra cheese. My favorite for a frozen store bought pizza. In town ( Naples) I like Aldos, Aurelio’s Pizza, and Moravelas on Airport Road. I had several bad experiences at El Primo's---never again!! I also like CiCi's for an cheap, fun pizza experience. The pizza isn't half-bad if you eat it when it first comes out of the oven--so, I take my time and choose the many varied combinations I like. I live near this new Jet pizza---off Radio Road---so, I will be giving it a try when it opens.
#26 Posted by dagaleaa on July 25, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As long as all these guys from Michigan are opening pizza joints down here, can we get somebody to open a Buddy's Pizza franchise in this area? That's Detroit's best pizza right there.
#27 Posted by Pontiaction on July 25, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Au revoir Aurelio's. I've been there once and never again, horrible service, teenagers running the place and bad pizza! After that experience, a waitress in Sanibel was telling us that someone told her to drive to Naples for this pizza! We told her it's not worth the drive. I can't believe they're expanding, they need to work on their customer service first before they hire a bunch of college idiots at Gulf Coast.
Leoni's, I'm surprised they're not on the list for going out by other bloggers. They have sacrificed good cheese and sauce to make more $$$. Their pizza really sucks now. Really horrible crap. Don't waste your money there.
I hope Jet's can bring some good pizza to this town. But, it's curious how long the article is for a pizza shop, does someone at the NDSnooze have a stake in this company?
#28 Posted by neapolitan12345 on July 25, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
pontiaction,
Your are not kidding about Buddy's. When friends or family go up i get them to bring me 1/2 baked frozen ones and they are great.
#29 Posted by senna on July 25, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I kinda like the Sports Page, especially on Tuesday nights! Half Price, great pizza.
#30 Posted by DinNaples on July 25, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Come on guys and girls! We all know that the best pizza is from the Towne Spa in Stoughton, Mass. Even Mitt Romney stops in...
#31 Posted by dooley on July 25, 2008 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dooley, I was there two weeks ago, Onion, Pepper, Linquica, Burnt Edges, Crispy! Great pizza but not as good as the original location.
BignRich, also agree, decor really rough but what the h*ll, it's a sports bar!
#32 Posted by DinNaples on July 25, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I miss Sutton House, they made the best chicago style pizza ever.
#33 Posted by CaptSam on July 25, 2008 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I must admit I have had Giordano's pie with a six pack of old style shipped to me on many occasions. I get meats and cheeses shipped in from Bari Italian foods as well!
#34 Posted by Messina on July 25, 2008 at 6:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Capt. Sam
You would not believe the size, intelligence and audacity of the rats that left Sutton House when it burned down!
That being said, no one to my knowledge was bitten, and though one smuggled itself to my property in my spare tire ( I never saw it again)
they seem to have been well behaved and well fed rats...
#35 Posted by greathornedlizard on July 25, 2008 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As I remember, a large contingent of the Sutton House rats found a way in via the roof at the nearby Pizza Hut where I guess they felt right at home with the crumbs and scraps of peperoni or whatever.
I saw an especially large specimen, which being black and white, I initially took to be a cat, as it crossed US41 at 6th Ave. N. and entered the storm drain.
That one rivaled in size the 5 pounder I once saw whilst fishing from the rocks at Pacific Grove, Ca. some years previous.
We should all be thankful that these pizza rats are not like the much smaller fruit and roof rats that we frequently have to drive out of our attics.
#36 Posted by greathornedlizard on July 25, 2008 at 8:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where's the darned pellet gun when you really need one?
#37 Posted by lizzyb on July 25, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How about opening one in the estates. Give Hungey Howies some competition!!
#38 Posted by Hendry on July 25, 2008 at 9:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UMMMMM!!!! You are all wrong!!! MAMA MIA'S is by far the best pizza in town, Aurelio's can't even compete they always burn thier pizza!!!! Of course this is just my personal favorite:)
#39 Posted by ryan555 on July 25, 2008 at 11:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I lived in Boston for some time. Boston pizza is great... if you like sliced & diced rats as a topping.
Besides a few select places in a few small towns or a couple of places in the North End (and no, not Regina's), pizza in New England sucked. I guess you would have to be born there to appreciate it.
On the other hand, I did come across some great grinders there.
#40 Posted by jim09091 on July 26, 2008 at 1:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
dooley...are you another one of those "the way we do it up north, is MUCH better types?"
I'm not flying to Mass for pizza.
I'm not flying to OH. either.
BUT I'LL FLY TO NY....okay...fine...NEW YORK CITY....thin sliced...extra cheese.....with a side of naked cowboy on a winter day. Once he wins his little M and M lawsuit, he may not need hang out there anymore. He's as tasty as the pizza there! I THINK N.Y. PIZZA IS DIVINE!
Sorry dooley no MASS pizza for me.
#41 Posted by beetlejuice on July 26, 2008 at 1:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great out of work Polish home builder and tile workers are coming to SWFL to open 15 Pizzerias.
This guy was a Blck belt instructor, Home Builder and a Nurse lol so I guess now the pizza biz is an easy business because the economy in Michigan is bad .... LOL unreal Can I be an investor ?
These guys need to concentrate one making it work on one store first. They are in for a rude awakening if they think they are gonna walk in SWFL and make millions on deliverying Pizza because they didn't find a pizza parlor with good pizza like back home in Michigan...Isn't Cardboard Pizza franchise Dominoes from Michigan ?
#42 Posted by Johnywalker on July 26, 2008 at 4:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Cutthroat, if I were you wife I'd be upset that you told the NDN blog world that my pie was burnt on the edges.
But thats just me. I like to keep my pie status between my husband and I.
#43 Posted by emmylopez on July 26, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We need a Sir Pizza over here. There is on in Key Biscayne and it is the best! Thin crust and not greasy! Need to drive over and get some!
#44 Posted by pizzalover on July 29, 2008 at 6:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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