RECOVERY: Pizza restaurant reopens, 11 months after it was destroyed by tornado

>> RELATED: Restaurant worker called ‘unsung hero’ after tornadoes

“Reopening our North Main location while our community faces another challenge means so much to our Dayton Donatos family,” Todd Rogers, president of The Viking Group, Donatos Pizza’s franchise partner in the Dayton area, told this news outlet over the weekend. “The rebuilt location points to the resilience of our community, our neighbors and our team. It represents perseverance, commitment and spirit. We’re very proud to be a part of this great neighborhood and can’t wait to see our valued customers again.”

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The Donatos pizza shop at 5120 N. Main St. that had  served the north Dayton and Harrison Twp. community since 1994 had to be demolished because of the damage sustained during the tornadoes. Employees of the store said they took cover inside the pizza shop as the tornado struck, and emerged with no serious injuries even after parts of the building collapsed around them.

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Rogers, who oversees the Columbus-based chain’s Dayton-area stores, made the decision quickly to rebuild on the same spot.

The new restaurant will have a drive-through pickup window and will be open for carryout and delivery. Its phone number is 937-275-2700. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday.

***ORIGINAL STORY (Feb. 6, 2020)***

The franchise owner of a Harrison Twp. restaurant heavily damaged by the Memorial Day tornadoes is putting the finishing touches on a completely rebuilt eatery that is on course to open this spring.

>> RELATED: Restaurant worker called ‘unsung hero’ after tornadoes

The Donatos Pizza store at 5120 N. Main St. had to be demolished because of the damage sustained last year, when parts of the structure collapsed. Employees of the store said they took cover inside the pizza shop as the tornado struck, and emerged with no serious injuries despite parts of the building collapsing around them.

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Todd Rogers, president of The Viking Group, Donatos Pizza’s franchise partner for the Columbus-based chain’s Dayton-area stores, made the decision quickly to rebuild on the same spot. A sign erected in front of the new store that is still under construction reads, “Donatos Pizza proudly rebuilding! Serving Harrison Twp. again soon!”

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The new restaurant design, similar to Donatos locations in Beavercreek and Huber Heights, fit into the dimensions of the previous structure, which was built in 1994, Rogers said. But it will give diners more room in the 16-seat dining room, and will offer one other important amenity: a call-ahead pickup window.

The changes will help the store’s employees to more efficiently handle peak ordering and dining times, Rogers said.

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Other improvements will come from clearing and landscaping the area surrounding the restaurant.

“It’s basically going to be brand new from curb to curb,” the franchise owner said. “It’s exciting.”

Interior work is still underway.

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“It looks like we will open in late March or early April,” Rogers told this news outlet Wednesday.