Pizza Luna owners Marc and Tracy Frankel are experts in filling a niche.
Five years ago, they brought Neapolitan-style pizza to the east side. Many east-siders who had lived in more pizza-dense areas β New York, New Jersey, Chicago β before coming (or coming back) to Tucson were thrilled. Finally, the real deal had come to their neighborhood.
Last year, when the Frankels launched Bubbeβs Bagels with Becca Groff and Kyle Leuer, they tapped into an even deeper need. Unlike delicious, Neapolitan-style pizza, which can be found in other neighborhoods β downtownβs Anello, food trucks like Family Joint Pizzeria β east-coast-quality bagels could not be found anywhere else (especially after The Bagel Joint in Oro Valley closed in October).
Last week, the Frankels made the decision to close Pizza Luna for good.
From pizza to bagels
In part, the Frankels made the decision to close Pizza Luna to concentrate resources on Bubbe's.
Bubbeβs became another, equally beloved, child to the Frankels, who are serial entrepreneurs. Marc is in a state of perpetual βsemi-retirementβ after creating a local pizza chain in Portland, Oregon.
βMarc doesnβt have a lot of hobbies except cycling and opening up restaurants,β Kyle said. βHeβs a restaurant guy; he loves to do it.β
Pizza Luna was a new concept for the Frankel couple, built from scratch when they moved to Tucson.
β[Pizza Luna] holds a lot of meaning to me. We reinvented ourselves in a new place, and made all kinds of connections in Tucson,β said Tracy. βItβs just something we know β itβs part of our blood.β
Factors related to COVID shut down Pizza Lunaβs operations in January. In the months that followed, two things were clear: One, that Bubbeβs was a runaway success, selling thousands of bagels every week. Two, that Pizza Luna devotees greatly missed the pizzeria.
βWhen we had to close because of COVID, our customers wanted us to come back,β Tracy said. βOpening Bubbeβs was going to be a priority, but our hearts were in Pizza Luna.β
βEventually, Marc said, βLetβs treat it like a pop-up,ββ Tracy said.
So, starting in March, for Friday and Saturday nights only, Pizza Luna was reborn. They borrowed some staff from Bubbeβs who wanted to pick up extra hours in the evening. Customers who had missed Pizza Luna for months eagerly returned.
βPeople were really happy,β Tracy said.
Pizza Luna had also been planning to expand to Joesler Village on River Road. The rental agreement was signed. Construction work was contracted. Then Pizza Lunaβs first location shut down.
Marc, Tracy, Becca and Kyle came together: what were they going to do with the new place? The momentum from Bubbeβs helped them come to the unanimous decision to use the spot to open Bubbeβs second location instead.
As they got closer to opening the second Bubbeβs, one of the final pieces to come together was staff.
They advertised positions across the operation: counter workers, bakers, line cooks, each paid a $16 wage plus $5-6 of tips an hour, said Tracy. βWe just werenβt getting responses from our ads.βΒ
With now three restaurants and only enough staff for two, the Frankels made the heavy-hearted decision to close Pizza Luna.
βIt was truly a sad farewell,β Tracy said.
Pizza Luna and Bubbeβs, neighbors in the El Dorado Village at 1101 N. Wilmot RoadΒ near East Speedway, always shared kitchen space: an open arch connects the two kitchens. When Pizza Luna closed, Bubbeβs could use the additional kitchen space as a commissary. This factored into the decision to close Pizza Luna as well: βWe need all that space,β said Tracy.
The bagel dough for both locations will be made and fermented in this larger kitchen space. The uncooked bagels will be delivered every morning to the Joesler location, where they will then be boiled and baked. βItβs a big refrigerated van we actually keep at our house,β said Tracy.
Marc will still be closely involved in the new venture. He acts as the liaison between the Bubbeβs wholesale accounts at Le Buzz Cafe and Floraβs Market Run.
βHe will be the jack of all trades,β said Tracy. βMarc can mix a bagel; he can boil a bagel; and he can bake a bagel. He can deliver a bagel and he can serve a bagel."
When asked about the bud of the situation, the kernel of new hope, Tracy said: βThe people who are at Bubbeβs now are such an amazing crew, led by Becca and Kyle, and they just love what they do,β she said. βThere might a third Bubbeβs in the future.β