News

4 pizza brands opening stores across eastern U.S.

November 15, 2018

There's much end-of-year movement in the pizza community, with four brands announcing openings across the eastern half of the U.S. 

New York-based Artichoke Basille's Pizza will open its first New Jersey store in Hoboken early next year on Hudson Street in the Hoboken Historic District, according to a news release. The store is the first of five franchised units opening in the Garden State as part of a deal earlier this year with franchisees Premal and Leela Shanghvi.

"The Historic District has a hip vibe and nightlife scene that is a great fit for the brand, while also being a popular area for Hoboken families, corporate businesses, and commuters who travel into the city each day,"  Premal Shanghvi said in the release. "We love that this spot has it all!"

Artichoke Basille's Pizza is partnered with Fransmart to grow the brand and looking for experienced multi-unit foodservice operators to develop franchise territories in major markets nationwide. 

Further west, Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza has opened its third Chicagoland unit, this one in Kildeer, according to a news release. 

"This is an area of the country that really understands and appreciates good food that's made well with authentic ingredients," said CEO Wayne Jones in the release. "That's exactly who we are — authenticity and quality is in our DNA — so this is where we should be."  

The North Rand Road restaurant will offer a coal fired-focused menu, including pizzas, chicken wings, meatballs and pork ribs, among other items — all cooked in the brand's namesake coal-fired oven. 

In the southeast, Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza and Rapid Fired are opening locations in Daytona Beach and Spartanburg, South Carolina, respectively. Both openings are set for Nov. 19, according to a press release. 

In Daytona Beach, the Cornerstone Boulevard Blaze outlet will have its opening event on Tuesday, Nov. 20, giving free pizzas to the store's social media followers. The 2650-square-foot restaurant is the first Blaze Pizza in Daytona Beach and includes seating for more than 75 inside and 40-plus on an outdoor patio. 

Franchisee Millennial Restaurant Group is developing the brand in other areas of Florida, where it operates 11 locations across Viera, Orlando, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Sarasota and Gainesville.

Also on Nov. 19, Rapid Fired Pizza will open store No. 27 for the chain, this one on John B. White Sr. Boulevard in Spartanburg, South Carolina. 

Mike Kern and Chip Hurst are the owner/operators of the new location and tthe pair have committed to developing 110 Rapid Fired Pizza locations in North and South Carolina.