STRATEGIC PARTNERS
Donatos Pizza has opened its newest restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee.
February 19, 2016
Donatos Pizza has opened its newest restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee. The 2,800-square-foot restaurant in the heart of Nashville's Midtown dining scene marks the chain's entry into the Tennessee market, according to a company press release.
"We wanted to open in Nashville because it is a great city with an amazing dining scene, a strong culture and discerning customers," said Tom Krouse, Donatos CEO. "Pizza is an exciting business, and Nashville is an exciting place. Midtown is the perfect destination for the new Donatos dining concept."
The Nashville location — which offers dine-in, takeout and delivery — has a contemporary interior with reclaimed wood, a large glass door that opens to a patio and a live music space. It is the second Donatos location to feature the updated branding, which launched last month in the company's hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
The menu includes oven-baked subs, fresh salads and chicken wings, including a variety of health-conscious options such as vegan, GMO-free, dairy-free and gluten-free pizzas. The chain is most known for its trademark "Edge-to-Edge" pizza, which features toppings from one edge of the pie to the other on a bed of aged provolone cheese. Customers can choose from 25 fresh, hand-cut toppings for customizable and signature pizzas. Ingredients are farm fresh, locally sourced and hand-cut, the release stated.
The restaurant also features menu items that are only available at the new location — including the Nashville hot chicken pizza — and the bar serves beer and wine with a focus on local breweries.
Founded in 1963, Donatos has grown to more than 150 stores in seven states and is continuing to grow beyond its Midwest core. Company plans call for opening new stores in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Virginia in the coming years.
To augment the company's growth, Donatos is seeking franchise partners with restaurant experience. Including a franchise fee of $30,000, the initial investment to own and operate a Donatos restaurant ranges from $460,000 to $670,000. The average store is about 2,000 square feet and the 2014 average volume nationwide, per store, was $1,006,000.
