Upstate restaurateurs hope to grab piece of pizza business

Four Upstate entrepreneurs opened their American Pie Factory restaurant Wednesday, with hopes that it may be the first of many.
Ron Mueller, Joe and Laura Mahaffey, and Bob Armstrong began operations at 103 Beacon Drive, near Pelham Road and I-85.
The group said the 6,000-square-foot restaurant, which specializes in New York-style pizza, wings and homemade desserts, is the prototype for possible future expansion.
According to Joe Mahaffey, president of American Pie Factory of Greenville LLC, the restaurant’s concept stems from a favorite pastime — going out for pizza after Little League ball games.
Mahaffey said the idea is to create a restaurant with a family-friendly environment that caters to today’s sports teams like the restaurants of childhood days.
Later into the night, the restaurant atmosphere is transformed into an upscale sports-type bar for the mature crowd. It offers 24 different types of beer on tap.
Mueller, the group’s vice president, said, “We want to be a family restaurant first and a bar second. I don’t think we ever want to confuse ourselves in that.”
Mueller and Joe Mahaffey owned a finance business before deciding to sell it and open the restaurant. Mahaffey and Armstrong, who has 18 years of restaurant experience, played Little League baseball together in the Greenville area.
The former Tony Roma’s restaurant site was “completely gutted” and remade for the American Pie Factory, Mahaffey said
Armstrong, managing partner of the group, believes the restaurant will do well in this economy.
“We’re giving a great value for the typical middle-class family to be able to eat and relax in a middle-tier type of restaurant,” he said.
A lunch buffet, featuring pizza and wings, will be available Monday through Friday. During that time, customers still have the option of ordering from the full menu.
American Pie Factory is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
1. Do you believe that the owners did a good job of market research?
2. Do you feel as thought this business can be successful or are there too many sports bars and pizza places to go to?
3. With the economy, how can they make sure this business survives?
4. How would you markt this business to possible customers? Give your bets sales pitch!!

Dora makeover

Can't a cartoon character at least be ageless? Answer: No. Nor can she just be a cartoon character. Next fall, Dora the Explorer may be trading in her androgynous bob and shorts for big hair, pumps and a miniskirt.
An actual doll will be part of the new version that Mattel says it will create for tweens. The younger, more innocent version will still be around, however. (Search for "Dora grows up.")
The only early evidence of what the new Dora would look like was a silhouette Mattel released as a teaser. That was all some needed to raise their voices. (Search for the silhouette.)
But just this week, the new Dora was revealed. (Search for more.)
Parents are PO'd. And a petition is circulating to pressure Mattel and Nickelodeon to reconsider. In it, petitioners ask, what's next: "Dora the fashionista with stylish purse and stilettos?"
It might not be so troublesome if the little Latina weren't seen as such a role model for kids. (Search for more.)
Among Dora's new features are some contemporary skills: shopping and makeovers. Plug her into the computer to change her hair length, jewelry and eye color.
Let's just hope Dora doesn't show up on one of those sites about bad plastic surgery.
And don't forget, Dora isn't the only doll trying to enter the modern world.
An ageless Barbie celebrated her 50th by getting tattoos. (Search for more.)
Strawberry Shortcake ditched the candy for fruit and a cell phone for a makeover described as "berry disturbing."

1. Why is this such a problem for parents?

2. Do you believe that Mattel and Nickelodeon are trying to stay with the kids that have grown up with Dora?

3. Would you be an upset parent?

4. Is this just another marketing campaign for Mattel and Nickelodeon? Are they helping or hurting their program and Dora goods?