Domino's Wins Food Concession...at Pompeii

This week, Pompeii will open a section of regio VII to the public for the first time, including a well-preserved villa called the House of the Wounded Bear. In past summers, Pompeii has opened Roman era thermopolia, or fast-food stands, selling food to the public like in ancient days. Regio VII borders the forum, and there are thermopolia and bakeries with intact ovens near by. So to celebrate the newly visible portion of the city, they're doing the food thing again, this time with, you guessed it, pizza.

Domino's, which has finally gotten a foothold in Italy, opening three franchise operations in Rome and Milan, has won the concession. Since so many tourists to Pompeii are already familiar with Domino's, it seems they've ID'd the perfect (in their eyes) promotional opportunity, including a big donation to the Soprintendenza Pompei, whose task it is to "safeguard and enhance" the cities and sites destroyed by Mt. Vesuvius.

Alas, no pizza in Pompeii YET, although the other parts of the story are all true. Regio VII is reopening this week, the thermopolia have been used to serve food on-site, and Domino's has UNBELIEVABLY begun to open franchises in Italy.