WAILUKU, Maui — For Pat Pimentel of Cravings Bakery, the Kahului Zippy's opening has allowed her to hire two more employees since she operates one of the local bakeries providing services to the new eatery.

Pimentel recognized it's "a bad time for our economy" and called the Zippy's opportunity "a wonderful blessing," although she said she hasn't been hit by the economic downturn.

On the other hand, Tasty Crust Restaurant President Curtis Takaoka admitted Zippy's will impact his longtime business in Wailuku, The Maui News reported today.

"In the short term, I think it will. People want to try it. ... That's fine," he said last week.

But he added: "With us being in Wailuku, I don't think it will impact us as much as those in Kahului."

Takaoka said he's following the advice of another longtime businessman who told him: "You no worry about the guy down the street. ... You take care of your own business."

Takaoka added, "I believe competition is good for business."

Zippy's Kahului held its grand opening Monday. The O'ahu-based eatery has a restaurant, takeout counter and Napoleon's Bakery in its building along Hookele Street and Mokulele Highway. It has food that matches other Maui dining spots' local menu offerings, such as hamburger-steak and teriyaki plates, oxtail soup as well as breakfast items. It is also known for its Zip Pac bento and Napples turnovers.

Zippy's Kahului enjoyed a well-attended, nearly weeklong soft opening before Monday's opening. Officials estimated 1,800 customers showed up one day that wasn't even the new restaurant's busiest day.

Like Takaoka, Kujo's Restaurant owner Merrill Aningat said Zippy's will "probably" impact his young business in the Kahului Industrial Park area.

"Everybody was waiting for them long time," he said.

Aningat said he has been doing "pretty all right" even with the soft economy, but he admitted Zippy's will take away business "maybe for a while."

"My saimin more better and my hamburger steak," he said with a laugh.

Kujo's, which opened in February, also has fried ice cream, Aningat said.

He said he hoped his restaurant's location, which is closer to the heart of Kahului, will be an added draw for his business.

Takaoka added that each restaurant has its own "flavor" of food or speciality product that continues to draw customers in and sets restaurants apart.

For him it's the hot cakes, and possibly the spareribs that people also have been coming for.

Takaoka said he has noticed a drop in businesses because of the economy but added, "It's not to a point we are very concerned."

However, he is monitoring the situation.

While Kujo's and Tasty Crust are left to stack up against the competition as well as deal with the sagging economy, Cravings Bakery, S&J Bakery and other vendors - such as Kula Produce, Pepsi and Meadow Gold — are handling additional business.

Pimentel said her bakery makes Zippy's cakes and two types of pies.

She wouldn't disclose numbers, but said the Zippy's business has added "a great volume" to her bakery.

The items she bakes are made from Zippy's recipes, and the quality must meet Zippy's standards, Pimentel said.

S&J Bakery in Kahului bakes the rest of the pies and some other pastries for Zippy's Kahului, said bakery co-owner Jeff Koga, who works with his wife and co-owner, Sandra.

While Koga said the economy hasn't affected his business that much, the added work from Zippy's is a boost.

"Oh yeah, anything helps nowadays," he said.

Koga said he hasn't seen a slowdown from wholesalers buying his product, but has seen a downturn in items sold in supermarkets.

"I guess everybody's buying gas now days," he said.

Unlike Pimentel, who is adding new employees to handle the Zippy's business, Koga said he's been waking up around two hours earlier in the wee morning hours to handle the baking with Zippy's secret recipes.

Koga said he eventually will schedule other staff members to help with the Zippy's baking, but for now he said, "I just like get it right."

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