Pizza Chain’s Success Still Growing

Yakima Herald-Republic:

Pizzerias thrive in economic downturns.

With record high gas prices and people losing jobs, pizza joints are cost-effective alternatives to eating out at steak houses and other restaurants, said Jeremy White, executive editor of Pizza Today, an industry trade magazine in Louisville, Ky.

“The cost of pizza has increased over the last year and a half,” he said. “But a family of four still can have a meal at a pizzeria for less than $20 and you can’t do that at too many other restaurants.”

So while many restaurants nationwide scale back on their expansion plans, Don and West Copp will open their seventh Papa Murphy’s at the shopping complex at 16th and Summitview avenues next month.

Don Copp, who spent 12 years as an outdoor educator, was exposed to the company in 1993 when he worked at a Papa Murphy’s in Seaside, Ore. More.