That includes reverting to the original sauce and soup recipes used by Dale and Connie Jennings, who operated the restaurant from 1990 until 2021, and returning to making the restaurant’s dough in-house instead of using frozen dough, Lenski told this news outlet.
“Our mission is simple: to honor the legacy of Dale and Connie while introducing exciting new flavors and experiences for our community,” the restaurant said via Facebook.
The new owners said they are committed to bringing back the friendly atmosphere and family vibe that made Pappa’s Pizza Palace a Miamisburg staple for several decades. Besides bringing back old Pappa’s recipes, the new owners have added some fresh ideas to the menu, including hot honey pepperoni pizza, pickle pizza and a Buffalo chicken pizza.
Lenski, who grew up in Miamisburg enjoying Pappa’s since he was a child, has “a deep connection” to the restaurant, having been close with Dale and Connie Jennings. In addition, his twin brother worked with them during high school.
The Kinders, originally from Germantown, have been involved in the Miamisburg community for many years via sports and raising their two sons.
There’s been a pizza place at 412 S. First St since the early 1970s, when Don Ranson opened Don & Ann’s Pizza Palace. Connie Jennings’ parents, Paul and Liddy Fox, along with friends Margaret and Granis Turner acquired the business in 1977, renaming it Pappa’s Pizza Palace.
Dale Jennings said he and his wife acquired it in February 1990 and operated it for a little more than three decades. “Our last day was Oct. 30, 2021,” Jennings said. “My fifth knee replacement sealed that deal.”
A grand reopening under new ownership occurred in September 2022, with those owners renovating the place and installing new ovens. The Kinders and Lenski purchased the restaurant this July.
“I worked under the (former) owners as a manager,” Lenski said. “They called me one day because me and my uncle were looking into buying a restaurant ... and wanted to see if we wanted to buy it.”
Staffing at the restaurant is slowly increasing, Lenski said.
“We’re getting busier,” he said. “We have seven staffers right now, and we’re looking to hire to get to about 12.”
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