Domino's falling

In preparation for the grand opening of Shonky's Pizza, Alan Christy began taking down the Domino's sign Friday afternoon. Domino's will become Shonky's Pizza starting Jan. 1.

As everyone prepares to ring in the new year, the Greencastle community will be receiving a new pizza place opening on Sunday, Jan. 1. The Domino's pizza located on 200 S. Vine St. will soon be called Shonky's Pizza.

The current owners of the Domino's purchased the rights to run the restaurant as a Domino's from a former franchisee. From the moment the Mosier and Shonk families purchased the rights, they had big plans for what they could turn the restaurant into.

"We pretty much wanted to change as soon as we purchased it back in the middle of September," said owner David Mosier. "We wanted to be independent."

As with most franchise restaurants, the Domino's corporation takes a cut of all profits from the restaurant.

"It's just too expensive to run as Domino's," Mosier said.

They also have the right to dictate everything the restaurant does such as the exact hours the restaurant must remain open as well as how much of each ingredient is allowed on a pizza.

The Mosier and Shonk families plan on changing the way they do business with the new restaurant. Not only will everything be made fresh, but they will also offer a variety of new dishes for the community to try.

"The new restaurant will have full toppings," explained Mosier. "We will be making everything fresh."

The new Shonky's Pizza which is named after Josh Shonk (nicknamed "Shonky"), the late brother of co-owner Scott and Jamie Shonk, will feature such items as pizza, sandwiches, salads, cinnamon rolls as well as a variety of other desserts.

"We are just going to play it by ear," explained Mosier. "We are willing to try a variety of dishes and just see what people like."

Although, the first of the year is a significant day for a lot of people, it was not planned that the new restaurant had to open on that exact day, it was just how things worked out.

"We will not be closed for even one day," Mosier explained about the transition.

All local Domino's employees will be transferred over to the new business. The company even plans on hiring more help as time goes on. There is even hope for an expansion into a sit-down restaurant.

"We would love to expand if we can find a place around here," said Mosier.

The new Shonky's Pizza, which will open on Jan. 1, will have similar hours to the current Domino's, opening each day at 11 a.m. Delivery will be available daily from 3-10 p.m. during the week and 3-11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.