News

Pizza Inn, Pizza Inn Express opening 7 Midwest units

Photo: Provided

September 12, 2019

Pizza Inn is moving out, with an announcement this week that it will expand operations in southern Kansas and Northern Oklahoma through an area development agreement with franchisee, Tony Nemer. Similarly, the chain's downsized sub-brand, Pizza Inn Express, is adding a location in Missouri, a pair of news releases said.

In Oklahoma and Kansas, the development strategy has Nemer bringing six locations to the two states, beginning with the opening of a unit in Stillwater, Oklahoma this October, with more stores in Arkansas City, Kansas and the cities of Enid, Blackwell, Perry and Tonkawa, all in Oklahoma, to follow.

Nemer was previously an operating partner at the Pizza Inn located in Ponca City, Oklahoma. He currently owns Golden Chick restaurants in Ponca City and Stillwater, Oklahoma.

"We are excited to have Tony lead the way into some new markets for Pizza Inn," said Bob Bafundo president of Pizza Inn and Pie Five's parent company, Rave Restaurant Group. "Tony has an incredible success story. He started his career with Pizza Inn as a dishwasher at the Bethany, Oklahoma location. Eight years ago, he opened the Ponca City location as a franchisee.

 "He's a strong operator and lives the culture of Pizza Inn every day, so I know that these new locations will experience the same raving success."
Three of the six new locations will feature the company's new smaller Pizza Inn Neighborhood Model that offers a lower price-point than the typical buffet model as well as simplified operations.

"With a price point under $500,000, it was a great investment for me and is more ideal for some of the smaller markets that we will be building in," Nemer said. "Oklahomans have been demanding more of Pizza Inn, so I'm really excited to bring America's Hometown Pizza Place to smaller towns where we can be an integral part of the community."

 Meanwhile, in Springfield, Missouri, the brand is opening its first Missour Pizza Inn Express (PIE) location on the Ozarks Technical Community College campus. The location is Pizza Inn's eleventh PIE franchise and is located on East Chestnut Expressway in the college's Café 101.

"OTC is proud to welcome Pizza Inn back to the Springfield community," Ozarks Technical Community College Director of Bookstore and Auxiliary Services David Hoffman, in a release. "People can't get enough of Pizza Inn, and now students, faculty, staff and community members alike can all grab a slice of delicious pizza in a quick, convenient fashion."