Gary Bimonte of Pepe’s Pizza in the New Haven pizzeria on Wooster Street.
Gary Bimonte of Pepe’s Pizza in the New Haven pizzeria on Wooster Street.
Photo: Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media File
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana is starting a fundraising mechanism to give back to the community.
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana is starting a fundraising mechanism to give back to the community.
Photo: Hearst Connecticut Media
A pizza maker at the coal-fired oven at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven.
A pizza maker at the coal-fired oven at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven.
Photo: Greg Morago / Hearst
Photo: Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media File Photo
Snow falls in front of the famous Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria on Wooster St. in New Haven on December 9, 2017.
Snow falls in front of the famous Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria on Wooster St. in New Haven on December 9, 2017.
Photo: Bill Kaempffer / Hearst Connecticut Media
At Frank Pepe’s “The Spot” in New Haven, events are always given the whole restaurant. For added fun, guests can watch the pizzas being made.
At Frank Pepe’s “The Spot” in New Haven, events are always given the whole restaurant. For added fun, guests can watch the pizzas being made.
Photo: Ctbites
Founded in 1925, Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana is considered the king of New Haven’s pie palaces.
Founded in 1925, Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana is considered the king of New Haven’s pie palaces.
Photo: Greg Morago
A tomato and mozzarella pizza from Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven, CT.
A tomato and mozzarella pizza from Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven, CT.
Photo: Greg Morago
The famous white clam pizza with bacon at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven, CT.
The famous white clam pizza with bacon at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven, CT.
Photo: Greg Morago
The famous white clam pizza (olive oil, fresh cherrystone clams, garlic, oregano, and grated cheese)Â from Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven, CT.
The famous white clam pizza (olive oil, fresh cherrystone clams, garlic, oregano, and grated cheese)Â from Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven, CT.
Photo: Greg Morago
The white clam pizza with bacon at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven.
The white clam pizza with bacon at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven.
Photo: Greg Morago
Zeus McClurkin of the entertainment basketball team, the Harlem Globetrotters, makes a visit Tuesday afternoon, February 7, 2017 to Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana on Wooster Street in New Haven to promote a Harlem Globetrotters basketball game at the Webster Bank Arena on February 24th. less
Zeus McClurkin of the entertainment basketball team, the Harlem Globetrotters, makes a visit Tuesday afternoon, February 7, 2017 to Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana on … more
Photo: Peter Hvizdak, ©2017 Peter Hvizdak
Zeus McClurkin of the entertainment basketball team, the Harlem Globetrotters, makes a visit Tuesday afternoon, February 7, 2017 to Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana on Wooster Street in New Haven to promote a Harlem Globetrotters basketball game at the Webster Bank Arena on February 24th. less
Zeus McClurkin of the entertainment basketball team, the Harlem Globetrotters, makes a visit Tuesday afternoon, February 7, 2017 to Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana on … more
Photo: Peter Hvizdak, ©2017 Peter Hvizdak
Zeus McClurkin of the entertainment basketball team, the Harlem Globetrotters, makes a visit Tuesday afternoon, February 7, 2017 to Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana on Wooster Street in New Haven to promote a Harlem Globetrotters basketball game at the Webster Bank Arena on February 24th. less
Zeus McClurkin of the entertainment basketball team, the Harlem Globetrotters, makes a visit Tuesday afternoon, February 7, 2017 to Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana on … more
Photo: Peter Hvizdak, ©2017 Peter Hvizdak
Roger Clemens had lunch at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven Wednesday.
Roger Clemens had lunch at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven Wednesday.
Photo: Contributed PHOTO
Clinton with Charles Pilotto of East Haven at Pepe’s Thursday.
Clinton with Charles Pilotto of East Haven at Pepe’s Thursday.
Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO — Nicole Brown
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana – 157 Wooster St, New Haven, CT 06511
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana – 157 Wooster St, New Haven, CT 06511
Photo: Christian Abraham
Customer reward programs created over the years have offered points toward gasoline discounts and free airline travel.
But now, consumers can rack up “pizza points” simply by getting their pies from one of New Haven’s iconic purveyors of the food. Officials with Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana announced Monday it is launching a chain-wide loyalty program, Pepe’s Rewards.
Pepe’s pizza customers will earn one point for each dollar spent once they register for the program. Those who collect 250 points will receive a $20 gift to use toward Pepe’s pizzas.
Depending upon the size pizza that is ordered and whether it includes any toppings, customers can qualify for the $20 gift by ordering 12 pizzas. Customers can sign up for Pepe’s Rewards program on the chain’s website.
Members in the rewards program will get a $15 credit on their birthday and will receive a variety of special promotions along the way. Customers who sign up in April will also receive an extra $5 reward and 100 points to get started.
Gary Bimonte, the grandson of Frank Pepe and director of quality assurance and training for the chain, said “our team has been inspired to create long-lasting relationships and connections with those in the community who have given their time to support our business and all that it has become today.”
“We can’t thank our customers enough for staying faithful to our brand and we are thrilled that we have the opportunity to reward them for loving Pepe’s,” Bimonte said in a statement.
Pepe’s has eight locations in addition to its flagship New Haven restaurant on Wooster Street. The rewards program includes purchases at any of the restaurant’s locations.
David Cadden, a professor emeritus at Quinnipiac University’s School of Business, said the goal of loyalty programs like the one being offered by Pepe’s is to “develop an ongoing relationship with customers.”
“If a customer feels they are going to get something special, they will come back more frequently,” Cadden said. “It also is a recognition of the old line in business that it costs 10 times more to get a new customer than it does to keep an existing one.”
luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com