Capital alumnus Andrew Hypes is opening an exciting new food business geared towards college students.
Hypes graduated from Capital in 2014 with a degree in professional writing and creative writing with a focus in journalism. As a writer, he became more aware of what it was that made people enjoy certain experiences.
He took this perspective when began working at D. P. Dough, a restaurant chain that serves a variety of calzones. Hypes began to question why it was that the customers didn’t seem to enjoy their restaurant experience. Then he listened to what people had to say.
“It takes more than deals and cheap gimmicks to create satisfied, loyal customers,” Hypes said.
Hypes, along with a coworker, developed a new dish while working at D. P. Dough, which they call the Pingweeni. The Pingweeni, according to Hypes, is a stromboli-like dish of unique design. They first tested the Pingweeni out on friends and family. When the two of them realized that it was popular, they figured that they could market and sell it.
It has been Hypes’s dream to run his own business, so he jumped at the chance that he saw with the Pingweeni. Pingweeni’s is also the name of the business itself, which Hypes says is an inside joke among the owners of the food truck and it “just rolls off the tongue.”
The dish will be available in a variety of traditional pizza flavor combinations such as cheese, pepperoni, and supreme. They also plan on developing a more diverse menu in the future, hoping to come into their flavor that is unique to their business.
Hypes has been living near Ohio State’s campus for the past three years.
“Very few restaurants in [the OSU] area seem to actually capture the frivolity and energy of being college-aged,” said Hypes.
It is important to him and his partners that Pingweeni’s serves up not only food but also an experience that people his age can truly enjoy.
“Pingweeni’s is a rare effort by long-time employees of the restaurant scene to cultivate a restaurant experience that isn’t all about financial success and marketing cunning,” said Hypes.
Pingweeni’s will be a unique experience for college students because it will be much more accessible and affordable, which is something Hypes believes current food truck owners have become disconnected from.
Pingweeni’s tentative opening date is May 20. They are not currently on social media, purposefully, but you can look for them in the coming months on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. Once in business, you’ll be able to find the truck at various locations on the north side of OSU campus.
