Black Market Pizza

[Frak]

If you've wanted to try it and haven't yet, I'd say you better be ordering this week.

The Black Market Pizza Blog – Warm and Fresh

[Al_4_State]

Sounds like they expanded waaaay too fast. I never heard a bad thing about it, and getting on Man v. Food is a pretty big f'ing deal. I'm definitely surprised.

[asmosis]

Sucks. Was hoping to try it my next time in Ames visiting my brother-in-law. We're always going to the same places and i remember someone posting on here about it being one of the better pizzas in Ames. Bummer.

[Cyclones01]

I've heard it's really good, but really expensive, and that's why I've never tried it

[3TrueFans]

The post before that was talking about how they were doing so well and opening an Ankeny location, obviously no so much the case. I never got around to trying it, heard ok things about it though.

[cycloneworld]

Hmmm...the May 1st blog entry is about how they've had a good year. I'm guessing the Ankeny expansion killed it.

I really like their blog keeping customers up-to-date with what's going on...too bad more places don't do that.

[Al_4_State]

I'd have to imagine that the Ankeny expansion wasn't cheap. If the food was really expensive, it probably would have been better off to open in DSM than Ames in the first place. College kids simply aren't going to buy a $20 pizza.

[sunnysideup]

That sucks that they aren't even going to make it to the Man V Food episode, but to be honest, I'm not sure how they even got selected to be on it in the first place. There are plenty of established eateries in the metro that have just as good if not better food.

[pyrocyz]

They were way too expensive. The pizza was good but not a practical cost

[mwitt]

Their lunch special was very affordable. Basically the same deal as Jeff's, and I think it might have actually been a tad cheaper with the student discount.

Kind of sad about it. Good pizza, and the owners were always very nice to us.

[nfrine]

They were way too expensive. The pizza was good but not a practical cost

Ditto. Tried it once...good pizza, very slow service, way high prices. Not a good combination for a successful business plan.

[Wesley]

That sucks that they aren't even going to make it to the Man V Food episode, but to be honest, I'm not sure how they even got selected to be on it in the first place. There are plenty of established eateries in the metro that have just as good if not better food.

Black Market Pizza - Ames Iowa

It looks like they parlayed this story on CNN into Man vs Food noteriety. The pizzas look like $13-23, which may be too high for Ames. It would do fine in other towns. They definitely had some innovative ideas as seen from their menu. Most pizza places are boring on the choices. Deep dish says 45 minutes to serve.

[4429 mcc]

The pizza biz is a volume play...not very big margins on pizza's. Thats why the big boys can stay alive and the little guys cant.

[alarson]

I'd have to imagine that the Ankeny expansion wasn't cheap. If the food was really expensive, it probably would have been better off to open in DSM than Ames in the first place. College kids simply aren't going to buy a $20 pizza.

Exactly. Plus, Ames has a ton of competition in the pizza market, with some really good pizza for reasonable prices. If youre going to do expensive pizza you probably want to go where the money is that'll buy expensive pizza.

[DJSteve]

Unfortunate--especially that they can't hold out until the Man v Food episode--but not all that surprising. They had a good story but I wasn't that impressed with the pizza. I'd take Great Plains over Black Market any day. And if you specifically want Chicago style deep dish, Wig & Pen in Ankeny is way better.