No more Bunch-a-Lunch, Mojo potatoes

Pizza lovers in Oceanside are disappointed to see the only Shakey’s Pizza Parlor in North County close down. No more Bunch-a-Lunch buffet, Mojo potatoes, big screen sports, and arcade games.

Without notice, the pizza joint located on Oceanside Boulevard west of College closed its doors on May 24. Employees at a nearby restaurant said it took the company three days to clear out the place and take down the signage.

Joe C. of Vista posted the last rating on Yelp on April 30. He gave the restaurant five stars, posting, “Their Pepperoni pizza served fresh out of the oven with a pitcher of cold beer is like crack. I'm completely addicted.”

On June 1, a sign posted in the closed restaurant’s window thanked customers for their loyal support. The sign read the closing was “due to the non-renewal of our lease.”

Not so, says CBRE leasing agent Joel Wilson. “We would have loved to have kept them,” he said. Shakey’s lease had come up for renewal. “They chose not to exercise their option,” said Wilson.

About 10 years ago, Shakey’s rebranded stores around California, including opening in Oceanside, shelving the old 1960s player pianos, barbershop quartets, ol’ timey pizza image, adding salad bars and video games.

Started in 1954 in Sacramento, the pizza parlor chain became the first franchised pizza restaurant in the U.S. By 1968, at the height of the company, saw 342 locations. While popular in Asian markets (over 500 locations), less than 60 remain on our West Coast. The only remaining San Diego County location is in Chula Vista; there is one in Temecula and five left in Orange County.