"It's been amazing, like way more than we expected in a lifetime," said Kay Poppen, co-owner of the new Pops Pizza & Pub in downtown Eagle Grove, of how business has been since they opened in the old B&S Station location.
Poppen, who purchased the business – including key intellectual property like the top secret original recipe for Med Bread, a local favorite for decades – from long time local restaurateurs Deb and Jeff Tinker, had been a bartender at B&S. And when her former employers announced they were retiring and closing up shop, she felt called to save the local favorite hangout, she said. "I really feel like the community really needed this," Poppen said.
Of course, she and husband Brian "Pop" Poppen had their own vision for the business, to make it new and fresh, and their own. To make it, "someplace where families can come and get comfortable," Kay explained. "Plus," she added, "I just think we're ready for a pizzeria again. But still with a bar."
And there was another reason it was important to Kay to keep the place going, a special group of regulars who'd become like family. "When Jeff & Deb were leaving we had our widowers who didn't have anyplace to go," Kay explained, noting that the group had met there for years. "They begged me to make something happen. And then I got a couple of investors, and we came together, and they did their thing, and I did my thing, and 'Voila'! Here we are."
And by doing their thing, she means the total overhaul and remodel of the restaurant which she and Pop completed in just under 5 weeks of frantic, exhausting work. "It was nuts," said Pop with a laugh, "I was so sore!" But, there was a lot riding on it, and they were pushing to get open as soon as possible. And that made the aching muscles worth it.
When they did open up, it was to overwhelming business. "It was every day," Kay said, emphatically, "every day was cray – cray!" Pop agreed. "Yeah. Insane! Last week was nuts. But it's a good learning experience."
It didn't take them long to realize they needed to get more help, and so they began hiring, adding 5 members to the team. Which, they reported in a post to the Facebook page (fb.me/popspizzzapub) had gone exactly according to plan. "Couldn't be happier w/ our decision to hire more employees," the post read. "Our new bartenders, waitresses and cooks have done an amazing job. I'd like to say Tuesday and last nite ran like clock work. Our machines are up and running, we're all stocked up on beer and liquor and are excited for the weekend. Thanks again for all the support it's been a whirlwind!"
One reason the place has been so overwhelmingly popular, is definitely the food on offer. Yes, they have classic med-bread using the original recipe. But they've also upped their game when it comes to their pizza. "There's that Stretch Factor," one waitress was overheard saying, explaining that the pizza used the best quality Mozzarella and plenty of it, making the cheese stretch out when cutting out a slice. And they've introduced a new crust as well, which has earned rave reviews.
They also offer Mexican American fare on "American Taco Tuesday", with Taco Pizza, and their own unique spin on the flour tortilla taco based on something Kay had first had about a decade earlier. "I didn't even really like tacos back then," Kay said, "but about ten years ago my girlfriends took me out for my birthday to a taco place." A specialty on their menu was deep fried soft taco shells, or "American tacos". The food was so good, she said, that she dreamed about it for years afterward. And when they decided to open up Pops, she knew they had to serve them.
Homemade ice cream is also on offer, as well as burgers (including popular holdovers from B&S, like their Swiss and Mushroom burger) and a variety of appetizers. One thing is for sure, you won't go home hungry! You may not want to go back home at all.
