John's Pizza is Closing

It is my sad duty to announce . . . . John’s Pizza in Frazer is closing.  John's Pizza has been the primary supplier for AgilePhilly meetings since John Voris became Lead Coordinator.

The owner Chris is the son of John Hashem who started the business in 1970 and who passed 08/30/2013. John was orphaned early in life with his sister Essie, but worked hard to become a math professor and school principle in his native Lebanon before emigrating and starting John's Pizza in Frazer. Chris and his current wife Desiree have run the place since.  (Desiree is fascinating in her own right. She grew up in Downtown Manhatten, her mother was a Rockette, and growing up the parties in their apartment included the likes of Gene Kelly.)

The business started in a small house on westbound Business Rte 30 that was hot and cramped but friendly and a favorite stop before it moved to a larger space on the eastbound side in 1991.  But that was the only thing that changed.

The business was always a great success and has won awards throughout the decades.  It is a Chester County tradition and icon, and the winner of so many Philly Magazine’s “Best Of” awards that the magazines tried to find categories so some other eateries could win ( or maybe place ) in the awards, but the pizza, cheesesteaks and strombolies coming out of Johns were always topnotch.  ( Secrets to their success were the 1940's IBM Meat Slicer for traditional thin meat steaks and their hand-made pizza dough slowly risen.) 

The place was known for a "Whadya have?" from John or Chris when it was time to ring you up at the register.  Of course, younger family members like John's 9 kids and a whole lot of cousins were expected to help in the business as they grew up.  I knew one Procedural Analyst in his late 20's was still required to put his time in one night shift a week.  But sadly - those days are past.  

So the store will be closing on Sunday July 28

Members of the family are all coming together with banners the week of July 22 to 27 to thank their loyal customers.

A great complement was paid by Chris to Agile Philly - that on the whiteboard of the dozen vendors to contact ( which included Comcast, Waste Mgmt, etc ) was but one customer who would personally get the news - AgilePhilly 

The new owners of the store ( actually it is a lease-out operation ) will change the store over to an Indian Restaurant .  One might question the wisdom of being one of many in the area, but a good Seth Godin blog this month  https://seths.blog/2019/07/next-to-the-competition  points out ADVANTAGES of being one of many in a crowded market place.  It changes your selling strategy from none to "only one" to "which one?" - for it makes customers mindful of your product.

So even if you cannot make it to John's Pizza on Business Rte 30 ( near the Rte 202 exchange at Rte 30 ) . . .  You can still leave wishes here in the comment box and let Chris know he ( and his pizzas ) will be sorely missed and can wish him well in his next phase of life's journey.

John Hashem http://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/John-H.-Hashem-96354284