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Pizza Marketplace's Top 10 most clicked in 2022

Here's what Pizza Marketplace readers clicked on the most in 2022.

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December 27, 2022 by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

While other restaurants struggled during the pandemic, pizza thrived for those restaurants with carryout and delivery. Still, buffets returned and pizzerias opened new stores. We took a look at the most-clicked stories in 2022 and here's what we found:

1. Cicis offers $3.14 buffet on Pi Day

Cicis is a buffet concept, and a $3.14 buffet? Yes, please.

"Pi Day and an endless pizza buffet are the perfect equation," Jeff Hetsel, president and COO of Cicis, said in a press release. "Plus, as we come up on Cicis' 37th anniversary this March, there is no better way to celebrate than by offering guests all you can eat pizza for only $3.14."

2. Sally's Apizza to unveil omnichannel location

Sally's Apizza is a legacy pizzeria in New Haven, Connecticut. They held a pop-up preview of its new omnichannel location in New Haven with a drive-thru for developers, institutions and influencers.

3. Mister O1's expands to Boca Raton, Florida

Mister O1 has been named "Best Pizza" in Florida. Moving to Boca Raton was a big boon for the restaurant.

"I was a huge fan. I lived in Broward and used to drive all the way to Miami to have that pizza," Keri, a marketing executive and business developer who hails from Venezuela, told The Palm Beach Post. "I know people in Boca Raton who would drive two times a week to eat at Mister O1."

4. Derby City Pizza Co. ready to break out of the gates in Louisville

Derby City Pizza Co. owner Larry Davis posted this feature story on his social media channels and it went viral.

"There's a lot of pizzerias in town, but I stand out the most in that we're community related," Davis said. "We give back to everybody who comes asking. I hardly said no to any of them."

5. Stoner's Pizza Joint to open in Palm Coast, Florida

Stoner's Pizza Joint was founded in 2012 and launched franchising in late 2018. The brand opened its fifth location in northeast Florida.

"We are excited to open our fifth location in the North Florida market after positive feedback from the Jacksonville and Daytona communities," COO Scott Mobley said in a press release. "We experienced massive growth in 2021 and we plan on continuing the momentum throughout the state of Florida and beyond in 2022."

6. Hungry Howie's releases flatbread pizza line

Hungry Howie's has more than 500 locations in the U.S. When it launched a line of flatbreads, starting at $7 in four varieties, fans went crazy.

"We are ecstatic to introduce our new flatbread pizzas," Jeff Rinke, vice president of research and development for Hungry Howie's Pizza, said in a press release. "As the originator of Flavored Crust pizza, we wanted to provide our fans with a lighter crust option that still packs the bold and delicious flavors we are known for. Hungry Howie's has long listened to what our fans want, and our latest menu innovation is indicative of this."

7. Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream inks deal for Florida Panhandle

Although Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream's parent company filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year, the brand is growing and signed a deal for the Florida Panhandle.

"The Happy Joe's experience is second to none, so we're beyond excited to join this franchise family," Franchisee Jennifer Harding said in a press release. "When I brought (husband) Jeff back to Dubuque for the first time, Happy Joe's was at the top of my list as a place to show him. We can't wait to bring the most delicious pizza to the Panhandle and help create more fun memories for families here!"

8. Pizza Factory expands into Georgia

Pizza Factory opened its first store in Georgia in Athens.

"After previously being stationed in Georgia while in the military, I quickly fell in love with the state and knew that I had to bring my favorite pizzeria to the East Coast. The community values and diverse menu options that Pizza Factory offers will be the perfect fit for Athens," Brandon Broadwell, local franchisee, said in a press release. "After owning my own business for 10 years, I was ready for a career change and immediately thought of Pizza Factory. I've always been impressed with Pizza Factory's dedication to seamless operations and the close-knit culture, and I am excited to be the catalyst for the brand's growth in Georgia. I am confident Pizza Factory will be a welcomed addition to Athens and I'm honored to be the one introducing this beloved concept to the community."

9. Marco's big growth strategy not just about pizza

In this Q&A Steve Seyferth, SVP and chief experience officer for Marco's Pizza, discusses how the pizza brand expects to add an additional 500 units in the next two years.

"Current franchisees are hungry and eager to grow with us and will play a huge role in moving us toward that 2023 growth goal," Seyferth said. "Our development and performance strategy remains centered around growing through our current franchise base plus attracting new multi-unit franchisees."

10. Pizzashop opens in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, got a new pizzeria this summer called Pizzashop. With a thin crust and a brick oven sourced from New Jersey, the brand has about 30 different toppings.

"It's all made by hand," owner Josiah Urban told a local news station. "It takes a lot of skill to make it, anyone who is going to be making the pizzas is going to have to train with me for at least three months before they're able to make it."

About Mandy Wolf Detwiler

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Mandy Wolf Detwiler is the managing editor at Networld Media Group and the site editor for PizzaMarketplace.com and QSRweb.com. She has more than 20 years’ experience covering food, people and places.
 
An award-winning print journalist, Mandy brings more than 20 years’ experience to Networld Media Group. She has spent nearly two decades covering the pizza industry, from independent pizzerias to multi-unit chains and every size business in between. Mandy has been featured on the Food Network and has won numerous awards for her coverage of the restaurant industry. She has an insatiable appetite for learning, and can tell you where to find the best slices in the country after spending 15 years traveling and eating pizza for a living. 

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