Popular family pizzeria to return to downtown Fort Scott

Papa Don's owner Tom Rygmyr tosses pizza dough in the air to help thin it out in this 2004 Tribune file photo. Rygmyr and his family are planning to re-open the restaurant at a new location in downtown Fort Scott by mid-April or early May. (Tribune File Photo)

One of the few changes regarding a popular pizzeria's return to the downtown area is the location.

Brita Rygmyr, daughter of Papa Don's owners Tom and Sheila Rygmyr, said earlier this week the pizza restaurant is expected to re-open by mid-April or early May.

No major changes are planned for the establishment other than it will now serve customers at a new location at 10 N. Main St., a building that previously housed a consignment clothing store. Another change will be the availability of outdoor seating, Brita said Tuesday.

The restaurant's original menu featuring a variety of pizza, sandwiches and ice cream, as well as a salad bar, will not change, she said.

The Rygmyrs originally owned and operated Papa Don's from 1991 to 2005 at another nearby location on Main Street. They sold the business in 2005 to pursue other endeavors. It operated under different owners until 2009.

Brita said when the decision was made to re-open the restaurant, she and her parents wanted to find a building that would allow them to keep the business in the downtown area.

"We were trying to keep it downtown, especially in that block," Brita said.

Construction is currently taking place inside the building -- and equipment is being moved in -- to prepare it for the re-opening of the business. The new building is smaller than the previous location so the kitchen must be rebuilt to accommodate the restaurant's new brick-style ovens, Brita said.

The main reason her parents are bringing the restaurant back is because "they missed it" and "they missed the people coming in," Brita said. She called the decision to re-open the business and the availability of the building "perfect timing."

Brita said Papa Don's is named after Tom's father. One of the restaurant's popular menu items, the Jim's Deluxe pizza, is named after Sheila's father. Once the business opens, Brita and Tom will manage it during daytime hours and Sheila will run the restaurant during evening hours.

The business now has a Facebook page. The restaurant's operating hours have not yet been set, but lunch and dinner specials will be offered, Brita said.