Pizza Today - August 2018 - 49
Functionality
into Reality
Opening a second pizzeria on the same block as Empire
may seem an unconventional growth strategy, but Cope says
it was the obvious choice. "I needed somewhere to make
the dough," she says. "I needed somewhere where we could
watch what was happening. I needed somewhere that we
could create consistency and more refrigeration. We needed
to be able to take care of these to-go orders and catering
orders that were coming in."
Once a garage, Easy E opened in 2017 with Empire's look
and feel. Another Ellie hangs out in the space, a foreground
to its poster-filled walls. The carryout spot has limited
indoor and outdoor seating. Easy E serves up Empire's pizza
menu and slices of the day, as well as a small beer selection.
Meanwhile Empire maintains its full menu that includes
a gigantic house-made meatball and popular garlic knot
appetizers and a handful of salads.
Using Easy E as a commissary for dough-making has
helped both stores' pizza consistency and took pressure off
the staff and space limitations at Empire. The full-service
restaurant concentrates on its dine-in customers, while Easy
E handles all to-go and catering orders before 10 p.m.
Operating as separate entities, Empire and Easy E have a
symbiotic relationship where both thrive. "I thought it would
slow Empire down a little, it made it run better," Cope says
of Easy E, which she projects to generate $1.2 million in
sales this year alone.
Empire and Easy E do not deliver. Instead, Cope contracts
with a third-party delivery service at Easy E only, which does
between $3,000 to $4,000 a week in third-party orders. "The
fees are worth it because the fees are less than what it would
cost us to do all of those other things."
As Empire and Easy E have streamlined their operations,
Cope continually looks to other avenues to improve the
businesses, like procuring a mobile notification app to help
speed up the wait during rushes. "If there is anything I feel
like I am good at, it's functionality and efficiency," she says.
"I can stand in there and look around and say, 'I can do that
A U G U S T 2 0 1 8 / P I Z Z AT O D AY. C O M / 4 9
http://www.PIZZATODAY.COM
Pizza Today - August 2018
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pizza Today - August 2018
Pizza Today - August 2018
Commentary
Contents
Contributors
Expo Spotlight
Interact
Conversation
Man on the Street
Tony’s Trending Recipe
At Your Service
Destinations
Knead to Know
Road to Ppne ‘18
2018 Independent Pizzeria of the Year: Empire Slice House, Oklahoma City, Ok
Product Showcase
Pizza Today Yellow Pages
The Marketplace
Reader’s Resource
Mike’s Monthly Tip
Pizza Today - August 2018 - CT1
Pizza Today - August 2018 - CT2
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Pizza Today - August 2018
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Cover2
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Commentary
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 4
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 5
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 6
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 7
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Contents
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 9
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Contributors
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 11
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Expo Spotlight
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 13
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Interact
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 15
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Conversation
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 17
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Man on the Street
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 19
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Tony’s Trending Recipe
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 21
Pizza Today - August 2018 - At Your Service
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 23
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Destinations
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 25
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Knead to Know
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 27
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 28
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 29
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 30
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 31
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 32
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 33
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 34
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 35
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 36
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 37
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 38
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 39
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 40
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 41
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Road to Ppne ‘18
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 43
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 2018 Independent Pizzeria of the Year: Empire Slice House, Oklahoma City, Ok
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 45
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 46
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 47
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 48
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 49
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 50
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 51
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Product Showcase
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 53
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 54
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Pizza Today Yellow Pages
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 56
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 57
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 58
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 59
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 60
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 61
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 62
Pizza Today - August 2018 - The Marketplace
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 64
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 65
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 66
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 67
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 68
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 69
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 70
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 71
Pizza Today - August 2018 - 72
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Reader’s Resource
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Mike’s Monthly Tip
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Cover3
Pizza Today - August 2018 - Cover4
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