Mark and his wife of nearly 17 years, Amy, have five children:Īmy taught in the Riverside School District for a decade before choosing to stay home with the kids. The original New Brighton shop, which opened in 1959Īnd his family is growing at nearly the same pace. Mark now connects with guests in nine different communities: “I love the hot dogs, but they also have the best breakfast around.” “I’ve been coming here two or three times a week since I was a little kid,” he said. McNeely, who turned 50 last month, was at the Chippewa restaurant munching on a couple of dogs with everything and a side of fries. Mark was referring to people like Brian McNeely of West Mayfield. If I have a weakness, it’s that I don’t spend enough time in the office. “To this day, I still love being in the shops, being around the crew and talking with customers. “I really wanted to stay in the stores," he admitted.
“You’ll know,” Frank would tell him, “when you fall in love with being in the store.” When Frank finally tapped his son to assume control, Mark initially balked. He would constantly ask his dad how he would know when it would be time to take over the company. Mark initially opened a hot dog stand in Hermitage before working at the New Brighton and Chippewa shops. I had to prove I could run a successful business.” “Dad certainly had a path and a plan for me,” Mark recalled, “but the only thing he gave me was an opportunity. Afterward, he got an apartment, a degree in management from Robert Morris University, and a full-time gig as a manager at McDonald’s.
Mark enlisted in the Marine Corps and served for six years in the reserves as an infantryman. One morning his mother, Linda, was driving past the Marine Corps recruiting office and noticed Mark’s truck parked in front. Mark attended Clarion University for a couple years right out of school, but his future remained hazy. So he laid out three requirements for his son:ġ) Get a college degree to acquire business skills.Ģ) Serve in the military to develop discipline.ģ) Work at McDonald’s for two years to learn strategy and systems. By the time he had graduated from Quigley Catholic High School in the early 1990s, he felt an inkling to take over someday. Mark joined his father’s business at age 12, helping to load delivery trucks. “When people return home for the holidays or from school, we want them to experience an even BETTER Hot Dog Shoppe than what they remembered from the past.” And Mark uses that title to motivate his workers. “He wanted to open his own accounting firm, but the brothers were persistent,” Mark pointed out.įrank finally relented, eventually assumed control, then built what many view as one of Beaver County’s “destination” restaurants. The Trevellini brothers believed his business acumen could help them grow, so they asked him to join them. In 1971, Frank Papa graduated from Geneva College with a degree in accounting. That’s why they settled there.” The year was 1959. “The story goes that the brothers wanted to open a hot dog shop in their hometown, Ellwood City, but their car ran out of gas in New Brighton. If Frank and Vic Trevellini hadn’t run out of gas, Mark’s business might be called the Ellwood Hot Dog Shoppe. I like to think I’m making friends every day.” Certainly, we have stressful days at times, but c’mon, we’re serving hot dogs. “He reminded me right then how truly blessed I am to do what I do.
“Why would I want to do what you do when you come home grumpy every day?” Ouch. I was talking to my oldest child, Ethan, and I asked him if he would like to take over someday.” Ethan paused for a moment before answering.
BRIGHTON HOT DOG SHOPPE PATCH
“We were having a rough patch and I was coming home late at night in a pretty bad mood. And sometimes, a family member can teach him a powerful lesson that transcends the classroom. I might even be able to pass the class,” Mark said, chuckling.Īs with any family, some days are better than others, Mark acknowledged. I think I know every part of the body by now. “She’s taking a biology class and she’s learning the material by teaching it to me. Just then a waitress named Ashley walked past to warm up a customer’s coffee. I truly believe we’re the Hot Dog Shoppe family.” “I try to let our people know I care for them. “I don’t take being ‘the boss’ lightly,” he said. Mark not only knows the names of each employee, but he strives to connect with them on a more personal level. He simply expands his “family.” At last count, more than 250 people work at the restaurant’s nine locations in Beaver, Butler and Allegheny counties - including three store managers who have been with him for more than 30 years. Mark Papa doesn’t hire staff to help run the Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe. Owner credits his faith - and his father’s direction - for building one big happy ‘family’ at his popular restaurants.
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