Business Spotlight: New York Pizza Plus serves full line of fast food, pasta and pizza

By Roni Gehlke
For the Contra Costa Times

Name of business: New York Pizza Plus

Type of business: Restaurant

Owners: MP and Reshma Dhaliwal

Founded: June 2010

Address: 2404 Mahogany Way, Antioch

Phone number: 925-754-2060

Hours: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

Number of employees: seven

Products and services: New York-style pizza, whole or by the slice. They serve lunch and dinners that include pasta, ravioli, salads and sandwiches. They also have a full menu of fast- food items, including hot dogs, chilidogs, hamburgers, buffalo wings, Polish sausages, corn dog, chili cheese fries. Food can be eaten in, taken out and catering is available.

How did you get into the business: For 13 years the Dhaliwals were the owners of the Wienerschnitzel Restaurant on East 18th Street. The couple lost their lease on the property a few months back and found the new location on Mahogany. They wanted to reopen their original franchise, but also wanted to add more to their restaurant. Since Wienerschnitzel didn't want to combine franchises, the couple changed over to the New York Pizza Plus Co., which sells similar food, but with an extended menu.

Best part about the business?: "Serving people," MP Dhaliwal said. "I really enjoy making food."

Worst part about the business?: Dhaliwal said he really enjoys what he is doing.

Key to success: "Good hot food," he said. "Keeping the people happy and remembering the customers are always right."

Biggest misperception about the business: Dhaliwal said there are several misperceptions. For one thing the name NY Pizza Plus implies that they serve only pizza, when their menu is full and varied.

"We also have a lot of people who remember when the previous restaurant was here and had so many problems with field mice and rats," he said. "We've cleaned all of that up and don't have those problems any more."

Dhaliwal also said that many are worried about the neighborhood not being the best, but he said that they have had no problems and that they have good security cameras and lighting in the building area.
"It is a good family restaurant," he said.

Future plans: Sometime in the future, Dhaliwal hopes to begin to deliver to the local area. He also hopes to open new franchises in the surrounding communities.
— Roni Gehlke