Gas is On!

I apologize for the delay in updating you all. NW Natural Gas made it out last night and turned us on!

Only after… Richard and Dustin of Wolfer’s Heating and Air Conditioning worked their magic. Really, there was no magic… just good old fashioned smarts, ingenuity, experience and genuine interest in getting us up and running as quickly as possible. They circumvented the original design and worked quickly to implement a new route for the gas. We are much better off now.

When the original tech knocked on the door Monday night with the news of our leaky underground pipe… it was a bit of a gut punch. The good news being… we didn’t have to blow up to find it! We are thankful for the Phagan’s ladies who noticed the smell and called to report.

The gas man said, “If you measure 1.0 I have to shut you down.”
We registered at 2.68.

We are thankful for good neighbors, Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, Wolfer’s and NW Natural for getting us back in business. I’ve said a few prayers for the scheduler at NW Natural. There is something so gilding about a person on the other end of the line (probably working from home for the last year and a half) busy dotting “I’s” crossing “T’s” and without saying it… allows you realize that the fate of your viability may rest on whether or not she likes you. Bleh.

So happy we will be opening today at 4:00. We are here… ready to serve! Join us for dine in or call 503.378.1271 for takeout and delivery.
​
#grateful

Finding the Funny - A Gas Leak Among Us

It’s not that our current gas leak situation is the most difficult we’ve faced. It’s the continuous waves of challenge which is wearing. No worries though. We keep praying and seek to find the funny. Laughter is most certainly great medicine.

For a few years I have found the Among Us… Among us. We have an employee who loves them and incorporates them regularly into our space (The creators of the game even acknowledged his Geppetto’s Among Us pizza! (pictured here). Those Among Us never cease to make me smile.

While we wait to be operational we are busy tying up loose ends… like the tile in the ladies room. It’s going to be gorgeous!

Great news… Wolfer’s is here to fix the pipe! I’ll update you as to our progress.
​
Keep your joy and find the funny!

Space Pirates - Geppetto’s and Pietro’s A Community Collaboration

Like Geppetto’s… Pietro’s Pizza has been in Salem for a very long time, offering great food and family fun! Can’t count the number of times our family dined there when our kids were little, sports award nights, birthday parties and the like.

A man named Bradley is currently one of the managers at their Hawthorne and Market Street location. Bradley happily dined anonymously at Geppetto’s until I asked what he did for a living.

Shocked I said, What?!”
“You manage Pietro’s and dine with us for pizza?”
“Yes.” He softly replied. “I love your pizza.”

Explaining further he said, “Especially your deep dish with pepperoni and jalapeño.”

Bradley is a kind and gentle soul. Pietro’s is blessed to have him as a manager. Ever since he revealed his treasured place of employment he has offered to help Geppetto’s (while keeping his real job) in any way he could.

When we were desperate for a delivery driver he jumped in the game. He is now delivering for us Monday and Tuesday evenings.

Our hearts sunk last night when NW Natural gas shut us down because of an underground pipe leak. Two separate pizza deliveries planned for today and no way to contact the customer to inform. Twenty-two pizzas in total for delivery and no gas to run the oven. Well… one phone call was all it took. Bradley was willing to help. He showed up at Pietro’s on his day off and made our pizzas there. He honored the cheese on top… but couldn’t bring himself to cut it into squares. Our two groups were made happy, orders filled.

Pietro’s… and Bradley… and Manager Lisa and their staff saved the day for Geppetto’s. We count their help as a miracle. We live in an awesome community where when we help each other we all do well.

Another miracle today… the fact that Wolfer’s Plumbing is coming tomorrow morning to fix our leaky gas pipe. A far cry from the original word, “Well, right now, we’re booked a month out.” When I heard that… I thought I might die.

So fun to hear the two ladies on the other end of the line exclaim in unison, “We love Geppetto’s!”

Thanks also to the Salem Chamber of Commerce for standing with us in business. I reached out with a plea for help last night and slept better knowing we were not alone.
​
So much to be thankful for. Space Pirates can be good guys. More soon.

No understanding here!

That is… no understanding the ways of COVID Season! As I visited with another restaurateur his frustration and concern were palpable.

“I’ll be here as long as I can.” He said. “As long as I can get the food I need to make!”

It’s true… supply chains are a bit of a mess. But all of us in the business are churning and turning… making what we have work for our customers.

The good news… We made another beautiful batch of Ma’s Ravioli yesterday. The yield was great… so supply level is high!

There are always some raviolis which don’t pass the quality test. We lovingly call them “Busted.”

Leave it to Chef Frank to dredge some… deep fry them… sprinkle them with fresh parsley and grated Romano… and poof! We have something new and wonderful to offer: Geppetto’s Deep Fried Busted Ravs! $7.95 for 12 served with our House Made Marinara for dipping! So good!

We are open for dine in, takeout and delivery; Monday-Friday for lunch and dinner… 11:00am-8ish… Saturday and Sunday for Breakfast 9:00am - 1:00, 11:00 - 9ish for lunch and dinner. 503.378.1271
​
We may never understand COVID season… and that’s okay. We must endure. To the restaurant owner I met today… I am praying for you. May we all remain strong and continue to face the ever changing climate with courage and grace… with gratitude… and joy in our hearts