Mod Pizza bankruptcy rumors

[caymus]

Never had their pizza, but it appears that they may have overexpanded.

Pizza chain operating in 28 states 'exploring all options' amid bankruptcy rumors (msn.com)

[Timpanogos Slim]

It's not bad pizzza, but the concept is sort of "What if pizza, but a subway sandwich counter?"

It's a very thin crust, which is shaped by a press that seemed to be tearing at least half of the dough the kid was putting in the one i visitied. 

If i remember right it goes onto a screen or disc, and then they literally drag it along the sandwich counter. They imply that there is no limit of toppings, but employees were obviously trained to keep it light. 

And then they run it through a countertop conveyor impinger. 

So it comes out pretty quick, but not immediately. 

The one i reviewed years ago mysteriously shut down about 2 weeks after i posted a review to yelp questioning why the sandwich counter format when most people are pretty comfortable with stating what they want and proceeding to their table. Workers showed up one day and the doors were locked with no warning or explanation. 

[RHawthorne]

It's not bad pizzza, but the concept is sort of "What if pizza, but a subway sandwich counter?"

It's a very thin crust, which is shaped by a press that seemed to be tearing at least half of the dough the kid was putting in the one i visitied.

If i remember right it goes onto a screen or disc, and then they literally drag it along the sandwich counter. They imply that there is no limit of toppings, but employees were obviously trained to keep it light.

And then they run it through a countertop conveyor impinger.

So it comes out pretty quick, but not immediately.

The one i reviewed years ago mysteriously shut down about 2 weeks after i posted a review to yelp questioning why the sandwich counter format when most people are pretty comfortable with stating what they want and proceeding to their table. Workers showed up one day and the doors were locked with no warning or explanation.

Yeah, I think of them as more or less the Subway of the pizza world, but I think they're better than Blaze. At least the toppings have some flavor if the pizza isn't overloaded, and the crust is far better, imo. That's interesting about the impinger oven. The one in my town uses one of those with the open front and the flame on the side, exactly like the ones used by Blaze. I've never been a big fan of this business model, and I'm not at all surprised that it's not going well for them.

[TXCraig1]

There are a couple near my house. They are always empty.

[fazzari]

I've been a business owner for 41 years now, and I can attest to the fact that it is hard, hard work.  We had a Mod Pizza open up a few years ago.  I'm just guessing that it might be moderately successful.  What kills me though, is, a couple weeks ago my wife and I were driving around town and we drove past Mod...  I wanted to show my wife what it looked like from the street.  The landscaping was full of weeds and dead stuff, and I wondered why someone would invest all this money in a place and not take care of it.  If the owner doesn't care about the appearance of his business, what else doesn't he care about?

John

[foreplease]

Bathroom condition is my tell, but I would have noticed the weeds before ever going in. Congrats on 41 years!

[Timpanogos Slim]

Yeah, I think of them as more or less the Subway of the pizza world, but I think they're better than Blaze. At least the toppings have some flavor if the pizza isn't overloaded, and the crust is far better, imo. That's interesting about the impinger oven. The one in my town uses one of those with the open front and the flame on the side, exactly like the ones used by Blaze. I've never been a big fan of this business model, and I'm not at all surprised that it's not going well for them.

Maybe i remember the oven wrong, or maybe it was different years ago. 

Never been to Blaze and i'm glad to hear that it's not really necessary anyway. 

[kori]

Bathroom condition is my tell, but I would have noticed the weeds before ever going in. Congrats on 41 years!

I had an uncle that would go straight to a restaurants bathroom, if it wasn't to his standards he would walk back out.

[Timpanogos Slim]

So i guess the news is that they have been acquired by Elite Restaurant Group, who have purchased a number of struggling pizzerias over the last few years, but doesn't have much of a media presence. 

[Pizza_Not_War]

Bathroom condition is my tell, but I would have noticed the weeds before ever going in. Congrats on 41 years!

Dirty windows is another warning sign.

[jeffjeff41]

I have never actually been in one but a few years ago, I think we door dashed some and we thought it was really good. It does seem to be like a fast food chain of pizza but with a "craft" pizza theme.