Published: November 03, 2009 09:16 pm      

Giveaways planned during Papa Murphy’s opening celebration

National chain noted for take and bake pizza

Offering a unique twist on take out pizza, Papa Murphy’s has several giveaways planned for its grand opening celebration next week.

Papa Murphy’s offers a variety of toppings, cheese bread and dessert — but its employees don’t do any cooking. Customers can call-in their orders or swing by the 2221 State St. location in New Albany to pick up an order and take it home to bake.

The business opened about four weeks ago and is owned by New Albany residents Mike and Rita Cason.

“It’s been going really well. I’ve exceeded my expectations and my forecasts so far,” Mike Cason said.

He’s owned another New Albany business — Cason Financial Services along East Spring Street — for about 30 years.

“I just kind of wanted to do something a little different. I looked around for a business and this one caught my eye and I’ve really enjoyed it so far,” he said.

The Casons purchased rights for the New Albany location from the national franchise, as Papa Murphy’s was established in 1981.

Clarksville has a Papa Murphy’s located at 1305 Veterans Pkwy, and the New Albany store employs 10 people.

Papa Murphy’s specialty recipes include the chicken bacon artichoke pizza and the veggie delight. Cason said a popular choice are stuffed pizzas, which have ingredients between two layers of dough.

When the store isn’t overly busy, a customer can stop by and have their pizza ready within six minutes, Cason said.

“It’s fresh, and when you take it out of the oven, you know it’s hot and ready to eat,” he said.

A large, 14-inch pizza with one topping cost $9.99. Beyond pizza, Papa Murphy’s offers salads, lasagna and deserts.

From Nov. 12 to Nov. 15, the New Albany location will offer taste tests and giveaways for its official grand opening. There will be drawings, with the top prize being for a family-sized pizza each month for a year.

Twenty-five winners will get one free family pizza for the second place drawing and free cookie dough for 25 third-place winners will also be awarded.To order a pizza, call 812-945-PAPA.