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Ray's Hell Burger. Ben's Chili Bowl. Five Guys. Good Stuff Eatery. And now Pete's Apizza. It is becoming abundantly clear that the first family has a yen for junk food that rivals even former president Clinton's Big Mac attacks.
In a speech today announcing his new lending initiatives for small businesses, President Barack Obama shined the spotlight on three groups of D.C.-area "entrepreneurial pioneers" that have benefited and thrived from SBA loans. His plans call on Congress to increase the cap on specific loans for new and expanding businesses. The honorees included Joe Incarnato and Doug Peters of Metropolitan Archives; Andy Cabra, owner of a string of local Dunkin' Donuts; and Tom Marr, Joel and Alicia Mehr of the now presidentially approved Pete's Apizza in Columbia Heights.
"And these steps will make a difference for more small businesses like Pete's Apizza in Washington, D.C. I recommend it -- that everybody go there," Obama said, an off-the-cuff remark after a brief pause from pronouncing 'Pete's Apizza.' (Really, it's harder than you think).
Reached by telephone, Joel Mehr, co-owner of Pete's, could not confirm for us whether the President has actually eaten any of his pizzas. He said he's sure the President has not stopped by himself, but who's to say a White House aide hasn't brought some back to the office?
Still, Mehr was humbled by the endorsement. "I'm surprised, it's just pizza," he said. He was also happy that his loan provider, locally-run City First Bank, received recognition, adding, "My bank is awesome. It's just like the 1950s; your friendly neighborhood bank who knows your name." President Obama's initiative also includes plans to help smaller banks raise capital to increase lending in the community.
We'll have to wait and see whether the "Obama-effect" will hit the New Haven-style pizzeria, as we've seen with Ray's Hell Burger. But Marr and the Mehrs are already planning to serve more customers with a second location this time next year. Options being considered include the new waterfront walk and Clarendon.
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i used to have an account at cityfirst. nice people and all, but dang, if you just wanted to avoid ATM fees, they were not your first choice. maybe they're better for large loans, but for a small personal account...eh.
As much as I'd like Pete's Apizza to come to Clarendon, it's getting a bit pizza heavy. We had Bertucci's and Faccia Luna and the just-opened American Flatbread. Is there room for another?
Mehr needs a bit of work on his salesmanship. "Just pizza"?
Just pizza? It's everything. It's...it's waterproof.
I disagree. In a time when every loser proclaims his shit-shack food is gourmet free-range cruelty free best ever fucking must have or you are a loser with a tiny member, no friends, and nose hair Rapunzel would envy, it's nice to see someone admit that it's just pizza.
sounds like a 30 BMI'er talking...go to Pizza Hut blubberboy
But Pete's Apizza does suck!
could we get some clarification on what "the new waterfront walk" might mean?? Pete's is pretty much the only place in the city where I can get decent Gluten Free pizza and another location would be excellent, but 'waterfront walk' is pretty damn vague. do they mean Navy Yard? SW? Georgetown? National Harbor?
Really? Pete's Apizza? No offense, but I've had their pizza several times and find it to be pretty poor in terms of taste and overall quality. Have tried a whole pie, slices, and several different toppings, but to no avail. I guess each person has their own preference for pizza, but I wouldn't have chosen Pete's.
Since they now deliver to Adams Morgan, I decided to try it Tuesday night. I still have the abrasions on the corners of my mouth from biting thru the rock-hard, dried-out crust. It says nothing about a local pizzeria when you think to yourself "this needs some kind of dipping sauce to make it edible."
Well, when there is a White House pizza party, I'm sure that Obama always gets the big piece.
Are you kidding me? The pizza slices are all cut so unevenly - my boyfriend and I both got a slice from the same pie, only mine was about 1/4 size of his (a significantly larger discrepancy than the picture above), and we both paid $4 each for what amounted to something the depth of a paper towel, not to mention room temperature...
by "depth of a paper towel" do you mean "thin crust?" Because thick pizza sucks.
Well, when there is a White House pizza party, I'm sure that Obama always gets the big piece.
I would so do Sarah Silverman.
I wonder why DCist cut comments from that post... maybe they anticipated a flurry of negative comments?
Standard -ist policy for interview posts, has been since before DCist was even started. Given how often it happens, I'm always a little surprised when people are surprised . . .
I've got a thing for obnoxious Jewish girls, and it's IN MY PANTS.
I did my civic Mt Pleasant duty last night and picked up a Binelli from Radius for $16. Didn't feel like spending $30 on a pie... No offense, Pete's, but you sure don't charge like it's "just pizza."
Both my boyfriend and another friend of mine got food poisoning from Pete's. Boyfriend was so sick I had to take him to the hospital.