Franchising

Hungry Howies, Smokin' Oak, Zalat add locations

Photo: iStock

September 25, 2020

The state of pizza looks pretty healthy if adding stores serves as a sign, with Hungry Howie's, Smokin' Oak and Zalat Pizza each announcing new locations this week, according to several press releases.

Detroit-area-based Hungry Howie's will open a location next week on South Shiawassee in Owosso, Michigan, offering $7.99 one-topping large pies. Additionally, 10% of sales that day will go to Respite Volunteers of Shiawassee, while 10% of sales on Oct. 13 will go to Capital Area Community Services.

Brothers and existing brand franchisees, Steve, Mike and Jim Peterson, own the Owosso store. The Petersons also own other stores in Michigan and North Carolina.

"We are thrilled to share a piece of the Hungry Howie's pie with the Owosso community," said business partner, Timothy Last, who will operate the new store. "Like the Peterson brothers, I started working with the brand at the store-level and quickly became passionate about the Hungry Howie's business."

Hungry Howie's has nearly 550 locations in 20 states across the U.S.

In Colorado, Smokin' Oak Wood-Fired Pizza, will open a store on Via Varra Road in Broomfield on Oct. 8, under franchisees Andy and Jamie Gunther. The location will be the second for the brand in Colorado.

"The entire concept is something that spoke to us both," Andy Gunther said in a company press release. "You know the food is fresh because there's no freezer in the restaurant and, with everything cooked in the wood-fired oven in just 90 seconds, the pizzas are high quality and taste unlike anything else in the industry."

The Gunthers have also committed to opening two Smokin' Oak Wood-Fired Pizza locations throughout the area over the next several years, according to a news release.

The St. Petersburg, Florida-based chain has six locations nationally, including stores in Tennessee, Nebraska and Iowa, and will open units in Iowa and Nebraska over the next two months.

And lastly, Texas-rooted chain, Zalat Pizza, will open its ninth location next week in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on West Parker Road in Plano. The cloud kitchen will offer only delivery or takeout through the brand's website.

The Plano area has two Zalat locations.