Franklin Entrepreneur Puzzles Pizza Market… and Expands

FRANKLIN, NEW YORK- Franklin Entrepreneur Puzzles Pizza Market… and Expands

With the help of the Delaware County Industrial Development Agency, Franklin resident Leanne Taggart has created not one, but two, thriving and growing eateries – one in Franklin and one in Walton.

Taggart, with low-interest loan assistance from the IDA, purchased The Penguin – an eatery and ice cream shop on Walton’s West Street in 2015. At the time of the purchase she was already operating Franklin’s sole pizzeria, Hometown Pizza, on state Route 357. Taggart opened the Franklin pizzeria in 2009.

In order to focus on continuing to provide the delicious and creative menu offerings The Penguin was known for under its previous ownership, Taggart leased the Franklin pizzeria to new management and delved into growing The Penguin’s customer-base and sales.

When the pizzeria’s lease came to an end in December 2017, Taggart – with a thriving operation in Walton – refocused her attention on the Franklin eatery.

With a re-financed low-interest loan from the IDA, Taggart re-named the eatery Two Brothers (in honor of her sons) and purchased the necessary kitchen equipment to expand the pizzeria’s offerings to include breakfast, lunch and dinner six days a week. Two Brothers is closed on Sunday; open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Taggart has high praise for the Delaware County IDA. “They have worked with me from the beginning. They are so easy to work with and they took me from not having much to really having something to be proud of,” Taggart said. “They’ve helped me to succeed and grow.”

As part of Taggart’s growth and expansion plan for Two Brothers, she intends to open an ice cream stand adjacent to the eatery later this year.

For more information about the Delaware County IDA and how they can help make your business dreams a reality visit dcecodev.com/ida/or call 607-832-5123.