Chicken restaurant also planned for former Mokas building
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
A new pizza restaurant will be opening in the little Dillons strip mall, 515 W. 27th, within the next two weeks.
Jacob Proffitt will be opening Little Dinero Pizzeria, which he said is meant to be an affordable pizza option.
The menu will include pizza-by-the-slice, as well as grab-and-go hot pizzas during the dinner hour.
Little Dinero's menu will also include specialty pizzas, including a crab rangoon and cheeseburger pizza, which will be a little more expensive than some of the more basic options, Proffitt said.
Proffitt said he doesn't want to compete with existing pizza places in Hays. He said Little Dinero will have its own niche.
All of the ingredients will be made in-house, including the sauce and dough. Little Dinero's crust will be somewhere between a thin crust and a hand-tossed.
"We try to hit all palettes," Proffitt said. "It is more like what a homemade pizza would be."
Proffitt said he wants to focus on affordability for families.
"The cost of pizza has really skyrocketed in this area," he said. "With the economy and interest rates going up, it's going to be a little tighter for families."
The name "Little Dinero" is supposed to mean "little money," Proffitt said.
Proffitt said he is planning a meal deal with two large pizzas, dessert sticks and a bottle of pop for about $20. A pizza slice and soda will run about $5.
"I wanted to do a good price-point pizza not only for the college students but for the community," Proffitt said.
There are also no other restaurants in the area of town where Little Dinero is opening, Proffitt said.
Little Dinero won't open with delivery, but Proffitt said he plans to add that service once the business gets up and running.
Proffitt remodeled two storefronts, knocking down a wall to create one open space. His company did major renovations to the storefronts, including new plumping and accessible bathrooms. Proffitt has signed a long-term lease on the storefronts, which have remained vacant most of the life of the complex.
You can follow Little Dinero on Facebook.
Chicken restaurant
Proffitt purchased and is remodeling the former Mokas building, 1230 E. 27th in Hays, into a chicken restaurant.
The restaurant has yet to be named. Proffitt said he hopes to have the eatery open after the first of the year.
He hopes to feature boneless chicken wings and chicken strips with traditional sides and fresh-baked pies.
Both hand-dipped buttermilk breaded strips and grilled chicken options will be available.
"Everything will be homemade, super-great quality," he said.
Proffitt said he did not want the new chicken restaurant to compete with JD's Chicken or Popeye's, which is coming soon to the strip mall in front of the Hilton Garden Inn.
"The worst thing we could do is hurt another business," he said. "That's the worst thing we could do."
Proffitt said he is always trying to grow the community.
"If I can break even, I'm in," he said. ... "Money has never been our motivator. It's more of growing the community."
Proffitt also owns Auman Company, Taco Grande, Tiger Burger, Bricks Rockin' BBQ, Gari's Donuts and Munsch Fitness in Hays.