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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, April 12, 2008

MOBILE WAHOO
Sandy Beach new home of Wahoo's lunch wagon

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Siblings Mike and Noel Pietsch get their new Wahoo's Fish Taco lunch wagon set up at Sandy Beach.

Twain Newhart

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Wahoo's Fish Taco has hooked a second location from which to serve its surf-inspired Mexican food — a lunch wagon at Sandy Beach.

The mobile operation of the franchised restaurant chain will park every day in the parking lot of Sandys starting Monday.

The company bid on a five-year contract with the city to occupy the spot at the East Honolulu beach park, which has featured lunch wagon service in the past.

Wahoo's has operated a lunch wagon for about a year, largely for special occasion business like parties and catered events, while seeking a long-term location.

"This is like our (second) home," said Noel Pietsch, a partner in the local Wahoo's franchise. "A huge part of the plan was to be right at the beach."

California-based Wahoo's expanded to Hawai'i in January 2006 with a sit-down restaurant at Ward Gateway Center owned by Stephanie, Mike and Noel Pietsch — children of kama'aina business leader and Title Guaranty of Hawaii chief executive Michael Pietsch.

The three siblings have sought to expand the chain, but difficulty finding prime real estate combined with rising rents and other costs have inhibited opening additional stores.

"We are thrilled to begin this new chapter of the business," said Stephanie Pietsch Gambetta.

Wahoo's was started in 1988 by three brothers in Costa Mesa, Calif. The chain has about 50 restaurants in California, Colorado, Texas and Hawai'i.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.