Boss’ Pizza replaces Minervas in Yankton
Jan. 6, 2023
Boss’ Pizza & Chicken has expanded to another city in South Dakota.
The newest franchise location is in the Best Western Kelly Inn in Yankton and is called Boss’ Pizza & Chicken Sports Bar. After Minervas, which had been in the space for 20 years, decided not to renew its lease, Aaron and Kimberly Ocampo signed on with Sioux Falls-based Boss’ and took over the location Dec. 1.
They had been offering a limited menu of burgers, flatbreads and wings, mostly to hotel guests, while preparing to serve the more extensive Boss’ menu, Kimberly Ocampo said. The switch to pizza, broasted chicken, sandwiches and pasta dishes happened today.
Boss’ is known for its late-night delivery, but the Yankton site won’t offer it until additional kitchen help is hired and the crew gains more experience, Ocampo said. They’re estimating that will be sometime in February. They’re also limiting takeout to hotel guests for a while.
For now, hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The family, which includes four kids involved in a range of sports, are fans of Boss’ Pizza, Ocampo said.
“We’ve had it when we’ve been to different locations, especially in Lincoln, Nebraska,” she said. “We really enjoyed the food. … We wanted to bring the delicious Boss’ to town.”
With two dozen TVs being installed throughout the bar and dining room, they’re hoping to create a destination for watching local sports. The focus will be on Yankton High School, Mount Marty College, USD and SDSU, and it also will be a spot to watch national college and professional teams.
The decor will start to include memorabilia from local teams, Ocampo said.
Minervas provided catering for events in the hotel’s banquet room, and Boss’ will continue that service, Ocampo said. In addition to pizza, broasted chicken and other Boss’ items, the Ocampos will offer a catering menu with offerings such as a London broil, pork loin and baked chicken.
Boss’ Pizza, which started in 2005, is gaining momentum in franchising. The first location opened in September in Wisconsin, and Boss’ Pizzeria & Sports Bar opened in mid-December in the Econo Lodge Inn & Suites in Brookings.
More are coming, said Josh Benz, director of franchising for Boss’.
“We think within the next few months we will be in Minnesota as well as the Omaha area and Colorado,” he said.
South Dakota also has several communities that would embrace a restaurant and bar focusing on local sports, Benz said.
“Aberdeen and Watertown are two spots we’d like to find a franchisee,” he said, noting that they’re large enough to support delivery and late-night hours.
Sioux Falls-based WR Hospitality, which owned the Yankton Minervas, has “no plans for now” to open another location, president Don Anderson said.
