Magoo's Pizza offers a slice of Hawai'i in central China

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

They already have "Hawaiian" pineapple and ham pizza in China, but that isn't stopping Gilbert Sakaguchi from bringing another slice of Hawai'i's pizza trade to the world's most populous country.

The founder of Magoo's Pizza has agreed to license the 36-year-old Hawai'i chain to a Hong Kong business partner who plans to open a Magoo's in the central China city of Wuhan in January.

Consider it a test for re-expansion of Magoo's — though outside Hawai'i where Sakaguchi considers the pizza business too crowded.

Magoo's at one time had 26 mainly take-out delivery restaurants in Hawai'i, Guam and Las Vegas, but following the entry of Domino's and other competitors, Sakaguchi in 1982 sold off the restaurants save one that was maintained by his brother, Glenn, in Waikiki.

Then six years ago, Gilbert Sakaguchi opened a new Magoo's pizza parlor in Puck's Alley near the University of Hawai'i. His brother closed the Waikiki Magoo's to manage an extensive beer bar at the new restaurant.

One small franchised Magoo's also operates in 'Aiea, and a second recently closed in Mapunapuna. Sakaguchi said that although he regularly gets requests to franchise more Magoo's restaurants, he's not really interested.

On the other hand, expanding in Wuhan was more appealing because of its population of about 7 million and a less developed pizza market.

Sakaguchi has experience franchising Magoo's in the Philippines where there are more than a dozen restaurants. The Magoo's in China will try to convey a Hawai'i theme with Hawaiian-named drinks and, of course, pineapple and ham pizza.

"People in China do know Hawai'i, and we want to capitalize on that," Sakaguchi said.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8065.