How do you like your pizza?

Papa Murphy's, famous for its Take ‘N' Bake Pizza concept, opened a new store at 4409 Chapman Highway on Wednesday, April 2, giving South Knoxville residents a new way to order pizza.

Joe Gemmell, director of operations for Papa Murphy's in Tennessee, said Papa's employees assemble the pizzas fresh in front of customers, but they do not bake them.

"It allows the customer to buy it anytime, like in a grocery store, and then make it whenever they want.- Joe Gemmell It allows the customer to buy it anytime, like in a grocery store, and then make it whenever they want," he said. "Our pizzas can last up to two days in the refrigerator."

Gemmell said that Take ‘N' Bake pizza is widespread on the West Coast.

"It began as a West Coast idea that's really spread, and now we're bringing it to Knoxville," he said.

Carol Costello, a professor of retail, hospitality and tourism management at the University of Tennessee, taught Gemmell when he was a student at the University studying hotel restaurant administration and business. Costello said she is already a fan of Papa's Take ‘N' Bake Pizza, and she thinks it's great for South Knoxville and for students on UT's campus who have access to an oven.

"I think with everyone's busy schedule and the economy, [Papa Murphy's makes it] possible to pick up a great-tasting pizza at a very reasonable price and take it home and bake it at your convenience," Costello said. "When you order delivery, for about 30-plus minutes you are waiting around for the doorbell to ring....and then you hurry to eat the product while it is still hot."

Gemmell said that all of Papa's ingredients are fresh.

"The [chain's] founders decided if they were going to do pizza, they were going to do it the right way," he said. "They wanted the customer to get good value for their money, not frozen cheese pellets."

UT sophomore Eric Hudgins said he ordered from Papa Murphy's because he likes to try new things. 

"I liked it because it wasn't delivery, but it wasn't frozen either," Hudgins said. "I thought the cheesy bread was an incredible value, and the pizza tasted really fresh."

Gemmell hopes to reach out to UT students as both customers and potential employees.

"Mostly what I've done right now is through Carol. I speak to some of her classes, and I always drop off coupons to hand out to students," he said. "And our hours are very flexible for college students. It's a clean environment. They can still go out afterwards. They're not going to be all dirty."

The South Knoxville location celebrated its grand opening April 24-27. Gemmell said the event boosted the store's traffic at least 75 percent.

"The South Knoxville location is the best store opening, out of the three stores we've opened, we've had to date," he said.

Gemmell and his partners have also opened Papa's stores in North Knoxville and Fountain City.

Gemmell credits brand recognition for the South Knoxville location's immediate success. "As we're here in town more, the public is understanding who we are."

Gemmell and his partners hope to open at least 22 stores within a 60-mile radius around Knoxville.

Papa Murphy's is now the fifth largest pizza chain in the U.S. with more than 1,000 locations. It has been voted best pizza chain in America five years in a row by Restaurants and Institutions magazine's Choice in Chains poll.