By Jondi Gumz
With business taking a backseat to the contagious coronavirus COVID-19 since March, restaurant openings are few and far between.
So when Mountain Mike’s Pizza opened at the Rancho Del Mar shopping center, four Aptos locals ventured to check it out Monday afternoon. They were impressed and wondered: Who is the owner?
This story will answer that question.
The owner is Robby Basati, born in San Jose, the son of hard-working immigrant parents from India who helped pay for his bachelor’s degree at San Jose State University. When he finished that, he went on to get a master’s in business administration.
Basati now owns 15 Mountain Mike’s Pizza franchises in California and employs 300 people. He’s hiring for the Aptos location.
He is 34.
Robby Basati
“A buddy of mine used to deliver pizza — that’s how I got introduced to the brand,” he explained.
At 20, while he was working on his degree and living with his parents, he purchased Mountain Mike’s Pizza in Hollister.
It was 2007, and the good times were about to end.
The economic crisis, driven by the collapse of the housing market, arrived along with 20 percent unemployment.
People in Hollister did not have discretionary income to buy pizza.
“We almost went under a few times,” Basati said. “We kept at it.”
Locals visit the new Aptos Mountain Mike’s Pizza, clockwise from left, Joe Perfumo, George Garcia, Mike DeLeonardo and Cary Oyama. • Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz
The economy eventually rebounded, and in 2014, he bought his second location, in Prunedale.
“From there, it was off to the races, Seaside, Salinas, Central Valley, Inland Empire — we embrace each store to that community,” he said.
At the Aptos location, there’s a black and white map of Aptos, Rio del Mar and Soquel Cove on the wall. Above the cashier station are giant letters, each with a beach scene, spelling out “APTOS.”
Each of his stores has 18-20 employees.
“Paydays are my favorite days, when I sign those 300 checks, 300 families you’re touching their lives,” he said.
Asked how he picked Aptos, he said Mountain Mike’s already operates in Santa Cruz and Watsonville and in the pocket between them are 22,000 people without a comparable “deluxe” product.
“We flourish in those smaller communities,” he said. “We are constantly giving back.”
A black and white map shows the area being served by Mountain Mike’s Pizza in Aptos. • Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz
Space was tight in Aptos but when TRC, the new owner of Rancho Del Mar, remodeled, he took his opportunity.
Asked what makes Mountain Mike’s Pizza better, Basati said, “Quality ingredients.”
The dough is not prepackaged or frozen but made from flour by employees each day, “like a bakery,” he said.
The tomato sauce is made from puree. The mozzarella is 100 percent whole milk, no water, shredded daily. Vegetables are sourced locally from Pedro Torres in Watsonville, his connection for 14 years.
Then there’s the curly pepperoni with a kick, a Mountain Mike’s tradition for 40 years.
“It’s proprietary — we’re famous for that,” Basati said.
The COVID-19 pandemic hurt his business initially when there was so much uncertainty and the dining rooms were closed.
But since the restaurant already offered carryout and delivery, “we have coped really well,” he added, voicing sympathy for business owners who remain in difficult situations.
The Aptos locals appreciated the ambiance.
“It’s really nice,” said Cary Oyama, who’s lived in Aptos since 1956 and once worked for Lucile Aldrich, the “mayor” of Aptos.
Joe Perfumo, who’s lived in Aptos since 1985, noticed the seven 75-inch flatscreens.
“Good for sports fans,” said Mike De Leonardo.
George Garcia, who has lived in Aptos since 1959 before the Rancho Del Mar shopping center was built, said, “I’ll be back.”
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Mountain Mike’s Pizza is located at 121 Rancho Del Mar, Aptos, and takes orders by (831) 612-6433, DoorDash or GrubHub. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Menu is at www.mountainmikespizza.com. To apply for a job, print out the job application from the website, and come in and ask for manager Riya Chauhan.