By Dawn Burleigh

The Orange Leader

When life throws tomatoes at you, you make pizza.

When Hurricane Harvey flooded Domino’s on MacArthur Drive in West Orange, there was no question in owner Randy Brown’s mind that the store must be reopened.

“This location is the first Domino’s in the Golden Triangle,” Brown said. “We opened in 1983.”

Brown owns 11 locations, including the locations in Bridge City and Little Cypress as well as ones in the Houston area.

With the waters from Harvey flooding the store with three feet of water, Brown took the opportunity to remodel the store following the Pizza Theater concept Domino’s introduced approximately six years ago.

With an expanded area for seating, there is also a meeting room, which can be reserved for parties.

Behind the scenes, Brown also included a training area for training local crewmembers on the art of the creating pizza and other food items on the menu.

“At first, I tried to purchase the land behind the location,” Brown said. “But when Aaron’s decided to relocate, I purchased the building from Aaron’s.”

Residents have questioned him many times in the months since the historical storm about when the location would reopen.

“I had one lady tell me she was happy it was reopening because now she could pick up her pizza in her P.J.s because she could use the drive thru,” Brown said.

Brown started his career in the pizza industry as a delivery driver for Domino’s in 1970.

“Back then, there were 100 stores,” Brown said. “Now there are over 15,000 worldwide.”

Brown, originally from Ohio, also knew if he wanted a franchise, he wanted one in a warmer climate.

“I always wanted to move south,” Brown said. “I wanted Texas or Florida. Texas became available so February 3, 1983 we moved here.”

The move was just months after marrying his wife Kathy.

“Our motto is last to close, first to open,” she said. “We do not put lives in danger. The Little Cypress did no flood so we were able to reopen with a generator. Our Orange location got the worse of it.”

The success of Brown’s locations is hard work.

“Hard work and a lot of time,” Randy Brown said. “I am in the top five percent for franchise longevity in Domino’s. I have to be doing it right, we have been in business 35 years.”

Brown has always done things with and for the community.

“WE had to get open to help people,” Brown said.

Brown is also a member of Orange Noon Lions Club and on the Board of the MCT Credit Union.

Domino’s, while open now, will hold a Grand Opening from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 7 at the Orange location located at 2107 MacArthur Drive in Orange.

To help celebrate the grand occasion, the store is offering medium one-topping pizzas for $3.99, carryout only.