Domino’s Kennebunk employees are ready for the lunchtime customers at Domino’s ‘new pizza theater’ store on Portland Road. From left are Jack Hussey, Ashley Merriner and David Chaves. ED PIERCE/Journal Tribune
Domino’s has opened a new “pizza theater” store at 45 Portland Road in Kennebunk and it’s on the cutting edge of pizza establishments in Maine.
According to Tiffani Ruszenas, Kennebunk Domino’s franchisee, the store is using a “pizza theater design” which is an open-area concept and allows flexibility for a number of elements otherwise unheard of when it comes to the “traditional” Domino’s store.
Some of those new features include a spacious and welcoming lobby, indoor seating for 28 customers, USB-charging stations at each table, free Wi-Fi, open-area viewing of the food preparation process and the ability to track carryout orders electronically on a lobby screen. The store also has a chalkboard allowing customers to express their creativity or to leave feedback for pizza team members.
“We are very excited to be open and plan to be a big part of the community,” Ruszenas said. “We would love to be selling slices at every event, driving the Domino’s car in every parade and being part of fundraising events. The new pizza theater is state-of-the-art with the very best Domino’s has to offer.”
Bringing this new concept store to Kennebunk is a challenge Ruszenas embraces.
“We are excited to bring the first pizza theater store in Kennebunk to local residents,” Ruszenas said. “The pizza theater design is an even better, more interactive experience. Customers can actually watch and track their pizza being made, each step of the way. Domino’s is bringing the art and fun of pizza making to the forefront.”
Besides being a sit-down restaurant, Domino’s Kennebunk also takes great pride in unparalleled delivery service in the area, she said.
“Our delivery experts will bring dinner to you any time during those hours in any kind of weather,” Ruszenas said. “We are open during blizzards and when the power goes out, we will bring you hot dinner. We deliver to Kennebunk, most of Kennebunkport, Arundel and down Route 1 on the way to Wells. We have a friendly staff ready and waiting to get your pizza out to you in less than 30 minutes.”
Ruszenas started working at Domino’s as a part-time customer service representative in 1998 and has worked her way up to becoming a company franchisee. This is her second location, as she opened her first Domino’s store in Biddeford two years ago.
Domino’s corporate officials say that Ruszenas is not alone in her success and that more than 90 percent of Domino’s U.S. franchise owners began their career as part-time delivery drivers or pizza makers.
To celebrate the “pizza theater” store’s official grand opening, Domino’s in Kennebunk will host a special grand opening event from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7.
Ruszenas said that the store will give away free slices of hand-tossed pizza and cans of Coca-Cola to the first 600 people in line (valid one per person). The store will also give away T-shirts and four $100 Domino’s gift cards throughout the day, as well as have a prize wheel for customers to spin to win.
She said that Domino’s Kennebunk is also looking to hire additional delivery drivers, customer service representatives, assistant managers and general managers for its “pizza theater” store.
For more information about the “pizza theater” concept visit www.dominos.com or for takeouts in the Kennebunk area, call 985-0345.
— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com
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