Thursday, Feb. 7, Papa John’s opened a new location on Geer Road in the Raley’s shopping center.
Owners, brothers John and Bobby Ismail, also head Papa John’s Modesto franchise. The Turlock location is their second Papa John’s. John Ismail has also owned 12 different franchises in the past, including Uno Chicago Grill.
95.1 KHOP broadcasted live at the restaurant’s grand opening from 5 to 7 p.m. and raffled off various prizes.
Toni Gambini, local store marketer, greeted customers at the grand opening. Gambini is responsible for working with all charity, non-profits and other fundraising groups of Turlock.
“Her job is to create relationships between different entities in the community,” owner John Ismail said.
“We really emphasize on partnering up with local businesses and doing a lot of grassroot marketing– I think that’s very important.”
The restaurant will have their first fundraiser Feb. 18 through 20 to benefit California State University, Stanislaus’s pre-law society, which will receive 20 percent of the profit.
John Ismail’s main goal is for people to enjoy the restaurant, and to support the companies motto, “Better ingredients, better pizza.”]