Zippy’s Opens to Long Lines in Hilo

Long lines of eager diners greeted Thursday’s opening of Zippy’s first Big Island restaurant.

Local residents crowded into Zippy’s new Prince Kuhio Mall location for the restaurant’s signature chili and Napoleon’s Bakery’s pastries and cakes.

The popular Honolulu-based restaurant and bakery chain has 23 locations in Honolulu and one on Maui.

This is “far beyond our expectations,” Paul S. Yokota, president of Zippy’s, told Big Island Video News on Thursday. “It’s a sign we made the right decision. People here are excited just as we are.”

Paul S. Yokota, president, Zippy’s

Yokota said Hilo was selected from a number of other possible locations. “Because of the people, the community, its demographics, the population, this where we wanted to come,” he said. “So it’s finally come.”

Zippy’s Hilo has a fast-food counter and Napoleon’s Bakery inside the Plaza, and a dine-in restaurant that opens to the outside of the Plaza.

The 7,000-square-foot location seats 185. Additional seating is available in the Plaza’s Food Court section.

Hours of operation will be daily, 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the fast food counter and 5:30 a.m. to midnight for the dine-in restaurant. Beginning Aug. 30, the dine-in restaurant will be open 24 hours on Friday and Saturday.