the ark of mark

In the news this week is a story about how Papa John’s Pizza founder John Schnatter tracked down and repurchased his beloved 1971 Camaro.  He sold the car in 1983 to help his father and to launch his own pizza business.  It’s a pretty neat story, especially considering that the car survived this long, but it also reminded me of a story that makes me happy every time I think of it.

Papa John’s is based in Louisville, where I presume Mr. Schnatter lives.  Once in the late 1990’s I was in Louisville for business and stopped for lunch at an Italian restaurant.  I was with two co-workers.  One of them was a buddy named Nathan, and I confess I’m not 100% sure who the other guy was, so I won’t give him a name here.

Early on during the meal, I looked across the room and thought I saw Mr. Schnatter, who is pretty recognizable from television commercials.  He was eating with another gentleman.  My co-worker also thought he was Papa John.  Nathan was facing the opposite direction and didn’t pay much attention, but commented that his family really liked a new Papa John’s pizza that had recently been introduced.

Throughout our meal I confess glancing over at Mr. Schnatter frequently.  Considering I don’t get out much anyway, dining near a local celebrity was not something I did every day (unlike my current lifestyle of abundant galas).

Mr. Schnatter and the other guy finished their meal and stood to leave.  Mr. Schnatter started to put on a striking leather jacket.  It was obviously custom-made in the red, white, and green colors of Papa John’s (and perhaps not coincidentally, Italy).  It was a little garish, but I thought it was cool.  I turned to my co-worker and made some remark indicating that considering the looks of the jacket, I thought it was safe to conclude that he was indeed Papa John.

Nathan, who you will recall was not sitting where he could see all this happening, had a revelation upon hearing that Mr. Schnatter was leaving.

Nathan is not a shy person.  He stood and excitedly said something along the lines of, “I’m going to go tell him how much we like that new pizza!”  And he took off across the restaurant.

He strode up to Mr. Schnatter and friend.  Keep in mind that Mr. Schnatter was wearing the bold Papa John’s jacket (which may have even had his name embroidered on it), and his face had been on dozens of different TV commercials over the years.  Nathan smiled really big and asked, “Excuse me, are you Papa John?”

Except Nathan said it to the other guy.

I may have literally put my head into my hands in dismay.  The plain-clothed guy smiled, shook his head, and pointed at the guy next to him wearing the garish Papa John’s jacket.  Mr. Schnatter looked amused.  Nathan was unfazed, turned toward him, and proceeded to compliment him on whatever the new pizza was and encouraging him to continue offering it.  They exchanged pleasantries and Nathan returned to the table, still unfazed.

I think what makes me love this story so much is not just how entertaining it was to watch in all its good-natured awkwardness.  It’s how much funnier it must have been to Mr. Schnatter and his friend.  I imagine them going outside and the friend saying, “Do you think that guy considers how big a coincidence it is that I just happened to be having lunch with the very guy he mistook me for?”