This weekend at a social gathering at a friend's place just off of Broadway Avenue, folks were getting pretty hungry. My salsa had already been devoured, and that just wasn't cutting it. So we pulled out a phone book (sorry, Ed Kohler) and called a few local places. We settled on Broadway Pizza, but encountered a significant barrier. They don't deliver on Broadway. The address on the box above, right under the part that says "delivery," is only two miles away from where we were, and the Robbinsdale location is right on County Rd. 81. Two miles in the other direction is the Broadway Pizza on the river in Hawthorne.
Look, I get it. It's not easy to convince every business to do deliveries in NoMi. But Olympic Cafe delivers, and so do other places in our neighborhood. Broadway Pizza proudly states that they got their start in north Minneapolis. Their website goes on to say that when they had to move because of I-94 construction, they stayed in the community. I'm thrilled about that, and this neighborhood institution should be applauded for that commitment. Back before Donny Dirk's or Good Sports opened up, Broadway Pizza was the only sit-down restaurant in our neighborhood. John Hoff, other neighborhood revitalizers, and I would frequently hold informal "policy booth" sessions there to discuss neighborhood concerns.
But that's precisely why in my opinion the bar is set higher for Broadway Pizza. They have at least a dozen metro area locations, and they got their start right here in NoMi. Boasting of a community connection should cut both ways, and I think we should see more on their end. Furthermore, their restaurant on the Mississippi River has one of the best views of downtown Minneapolis - a view so amazing that nearby residents pay $350,000 for condominiums with the same view. Yet Broadway doesn't even have a patio or outdoor dining area.
Broadway Pizza ought to know that neighborhood residents are dissatisfied with this lack of service. So I'm asking readers, the next time you want pizza or other food delivered, or this summer before enjoying what will certainly be a breathtaking view of downtown at Psycho Suzi's, take two minutes and call Broadway Pizza (612-529-4475) first. Let them know that your dollars are being spent elsewhere because of what they aren't offering for NoMi.
And what would you say to the family of that delivery driver when they are robbed and possibly shot delivering in NOMI?
ReplyDeleteBroadway Pizza is way over rated.
ReplyDeletePair-o-Dice has great Pizza and delivers for a fraction of the price.
We've seen way to many delivery drivers, cab drivers, postal workers, etc. shot in NOMI while going about their duties. I think that's sufficent reason for any business to refuse to deliver in NOMI until crime is under control there.
ReplyDeleteI agree that being a delivery driver is dangerous in this day and age. Cell phones allow for so much anonymity when calling in an order, especially for dirtbags who set up a delivery person for a robbery. Though honestly, from what my friends in South Minneapolis (East of the Interstate, but not technically SE MPLS) have told me, they've had more incidents of that type of thing happening there than we've had in NOMI. Granted, it could be argued that this is only because so many businesses restrict deliveries to NOMI, but still, I bet if you ask the cops who had more incidents like that, they'll tell you it's not NOMI. We've had some severe incidents though, if I recall, a young man working for Pizza Hut in NOMI was murdered a few years ago while making a delivery, even after handing over all he had.
ReplyDeleteI think a good policy for restaurants to take up would be some type of registration in for delivery service -one in which you'd have to go to the restaurant in advance to set up an account with some type of verifiable password, and show ID that they could make a copy of and keep on file. Subsequently, you could call in orders and use your password to verify you are who you say you are and bingo, food delivery that's safe for the delivery staff.
Sarpino's is much better than Pair of Dice, more variety and less greasy. You can order and pay on line (including tip) so the drivers don't need to carry any money. They even give you ten percent off for this service. What's not to like. They aren't in North Mpls ( downtown on Wash Ave s, but what the heck. I north Mpls won't provide a service why should we support them?
ReplyDeleteI live 33rd and Washburn and they deliver to me so they are hitting some of NOMI
ReplyDeleteBoth Sarpino's deliver in North Mpls. The one on washington ave and the other in New Hope. check them out online. You can order ahead of time and get a text message or email (do not remember which one) when the order is started, completed and out for delivery. I have ordered maybe 10 times 2 or 3 times I did carry out and the rest by delivery and I have never had a problem.
ReplyDeleteWell, i would have to say Anonymous 11:34 is on to a pretty decent idea and it should be mandatory also. Good suggestion 11:34.Anonymous 1:01 wants to penalize all of North Minneapolis for a sound decision Broadway Pizza made to take their drivers lives seriously enough to care if they are killed or not. Unfortunately, parts of North Minneapolis lost its' priviledge of having certain businesses deliver to their respective areas because of the obvious violent and sociopathic tendencies of some of their residents ...or visitors. No, let's not blame Broadway Pizza for being on the side of caution, let's celebrate an original North Minneapolis institution that has helped the community through the years tremendously.They have sponsored sports teams, hosted fundraisers and have provided North Minneapolis with jobs for numerous years. I will tell you also that the pizza is one of the best around and has been for many,many years. The proof is in the pudding.... you were pissed off because you know Broadway Pizza is the best and you had to settle for Totinos at SuperAmerica!! All of you guys are a riot so keep up the GOOD WORK!!
ReplyDeleteI live right across the river in NE, in a practically crime-free area of Minneapolis according to local crime maps, and they still won't deliver to me. Boooo Broadway! I guess I'm stuck with Sarpino's crappy pizza.
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