Get to know Pizza Shark Cape Cod
Click here to view an accessible transcript
Commercial Relationship Manager Mary Lenihan, center, caught up with Pizza Shark co-owners Sarah and Josh Koopman at their Harwich location.
Pizza Shark Cape Cod is owned by Josh “Koop” Koopman, Sarah Scanevin Koopman, and Todd Montgomery. They have three locations: Dennis, Harwich and Chatham.
When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, Josh who was working as a bartender found himself without employment. After driving by the empty general store for a few months, an idea took hold: The location would be perfect for an ice cream shop because it’s within steps of the Cape Cod Rail Trail. With Sarah’s encouragement, and his longtime friend, Todd, they took over the store in July 2020 and started selling ice cream through the window. It was a hit!
By the fall, they bought their first pizza oven and expanded the menu to pizza and subs. They took orders online and added a delivery option. Because it’s a general store, you could order a pizza, treat and even some toilet paper online and have it delivered! Eventually, they were able to open the general store, welcoming clients through the door.
In 2021, the trio opened their second location inside the Chatham Orpheum Theater. For the first six months, they sold pizza slices and beer and wine to moviegoers. After that initial success, they expanded – literally, by building out a restaurant and bar area with comfortable booths and eight televisions in the back of the theater. Today, they offer slices and their full menu, which can be ordered online as well.
In July 2023, they took over the former Showtime Pizza on Route 6A in Dennis. It’s similar to their Harwich location, as in they offer a full menu for takeout, as well as snacks, beverages and merchandise.
What’s something unique about the business?
Pizza Shark Cape Cod prepares most of their toppings themselves – making their own meatballs, roasting chicken, sautéing vegetables, etc. All freshly prepared. Also, they have unique pizza ovens that use conveyor belts to cook pizzas within six minutes. On a busy Friday night, they can do 400 pizzas in Harwich alone!
What’s the most challenging part about running the business?
With 40 employees in the summer, scheduling is challenging. Because they are so new and have grown so fast, each day presents something new to learn. They encourage their employees to ask questions about why something is setup a certain way because maybe there’s a better way to do it.
Fun fact?
Josh, Sarah and Todd are committed to sustainable year-round employment opportunities. They pay competitive wages and are proud to say at three of their employees have been able to buy homes within the last year. They also have an apartment above one of their locations that they rent to employees. With the busy summer, they have 40 employees across the three locations.
Why bank with The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod?
They are regulars in the East Dennis and East Harwich branches, and love that staff knows their name and genuinely are interested in how the business is going. For Josh, he opened his first checking account at the West Barnstable branch! Before opening the Dennis location, they had been using their savings to get the businesses going. Since then, they’ve worked with the Bank’s commercial team on loans and lines of credit to help with equipment and building.
Want to learn more about Pizza Shark Cape Cod? Follow them at these links: