Gumby’s Pizza reopened at its new location on Hillsborough Street Friday after a two-week delay.
Health inspectors from the Department of Health and Human Services closed Gumby’s down this past fall for health inspection violations at its old location on Hillsborough Street.
Gumby’s Raleigh store manager, Charles Armstrong, said the delay was due to miscommunication between the health department and management.
“We just had a lot of issues to deal with like building permits,” Armstrong said. “We also had to get final approval from the health department after inspection.”
Although the new facility contains completely new, state-of-the-art equipment and the highest hygiene standards, there were issues with the health department due to differences in requirements between states, Armstrong said.
“Our main owners have been coordinating the reopening from all the way in Florida,” he said. “The rules are a lot different in North Carolina than they are in Florida.”
Another problem Gumby’s faced in its reopening, Armstrong said, was the lack of connections within the health industry.
“There are a lot of ins and outs that you have to know in the restaurant business,” he said. “Being from Florida, our owners were not aware of a lot little details that vary between states. It was just a simple miscommunication.”
Armstrong invited students to come check out the new facility and thanked them for their patience.
“The best part is not having to take the bus to Chapel Hill to go the the Gumby’s there,” Armstrong said. “We are glad to be back here at N.C. State — we are all huge Wolfpack fans.”
Robby Callis, a sophomore in meteorology, said the delay did not reduce his enthusiasm as an avid Gumby’s supporter.
“I have been patiently waiting for the past ten months for this reopening since they closed,” Callis said. “Two weeks was nothing.”
Callis also said he and his suitemates have been supporting and creatively promoting the reopening for months.
“My suitemates and I have even gone and sat outside Gumby’s waiting for this day,” he said. “I still have their old phone number programmed as the number six speed dial in my phone, just below mom, dad, home and Ryan.”
Students across campus said they have been eager for the store to reopen like freshman in science education, Andrea Simnor.
“As an out-of-state student from New York, I had never heard of Gumby’s before I came to State,” Simnor said. “Ever since I set foot on this campus, I have been listening to people talk about the infamous Gumby’s and I really cannot wait to finally try some.”
Other students like history sophomore Michael Boger have had similar responses to the reopening, saying that they are glad the wait is finally over.
“I was really annoyed at first,” Boger said. “But it is OK — they are open and that is what really matters.”
Although there has been speculation as to whether the delay put a negative light on Gumby’s reputation, Callis said he believes that the wait only built excitement.
“I would go so far as to say that the delay has brought extra anticipation,” Callis said. “Gumby’s knew they would have business no matter when they opened since they are obviously the best near N.C. State or anywhere. They knew they are the top dog.”
