John’s Pizza and Subs: 25 years and growing

Story and photos by Karen Keefe
Grand Island Dispatch, August 10, 2007

Employees of John’s Pizza and Subs, 2131 Grand Island Blvd., enjoy camaraderie
on the job. They are, from left, Steve Rumsey, Carol Faulkner and Joe Gnacinski.

John’s Pizza and Subs is marking the 25th anniversary of being in business in Western New York.

It all started out with five young men – four of them from Grand Island – who had a business plan and the commitment to work hard to accomplish their goals.

The partners started with one store, and now are the owners of four John’s Pizza and Subs shops – one of them right here on Grand Island, at 2131 Grand Island Blvd.

They have parlayed Western New Yorkers’ love of pizza, subs and wings into a local chain that is known for its tasty, high-quality food. The Anchor Bar in Buffalo may have started the chicken wing craze that has gone nationwide. But John’s proudly proclaims itself as “The home of the ‘Original Chicken Finger Sub.’ ”

Kurt Raepple, one of the founders, said the company established its first store at 1436 Niagara Falls Blvd., in Tonawanda when he was only 19 years old. The other partners included his older twin brothers, Mark and Jay; Gene Mongan, also of Grand Island; and Paul Miller of East Aurora. In fact, the business was opened on June 2, 1982, Mark and Jay Raepple’s birthday.

“There are some very good partners involved. We each added something different to the business,” Kurt Raepple says. Although he was just a teen-ager at the outset, he realized the business potential. “It was a very good opportunity – I was excited about it.” He still has great enthusiasm for the business.

The company started out with five employees – themselves – and now has 100 employees. The Niagara Falls Boulevard store has been expanded twice. And the business has grown to include not only the Tonawanda and Grand Island stores, but also one at 680 Campbell Blvd., in Getzville and a fourth outlet at 4241 Delaware Ave., in Tonawanda. “Things have been very good,” Raepple says. “We truly appreciate everybody who’s been a customer and supported us and patronized our business over the years. We truly hope we’ve done them a service.”

He calls the Niagara Falls Boulevard store home base, but travels to each of the sites several times a week to check on operations and to get to know the employees. Miller handles the charity events and team sponsorships that the business is involved in.

John’s Pizza and Subs shops “are really good first job opportunities,” Raepple says. He said he and Mongan, who were the first of the partners to work directly in the stores, “have always felt strongly about trying to help the kids.” Raepple said the employment helps give the youngsters a positive direction, and to develop a sense of responsibility and a work ethic they can carry throughout their careers. “If they can do this, chances are they are going to do well wherever they go,” he said.

As the business grows, the partners have tried to change up menu items, while sticking to the basics that people have known and loved for years. He says it may surprise some people that they have a line of gourmet pizzas he considers second to none.

As to the future, Raepple would be happy to accomplish another 25 years in business with the same partners.