In its first expansion to non-traditional locations, pizza restaurant chain Mr Gatti’s Pizza is offering franchise opportunities to convenience stores.
“In our 55-year history, Mr Gatti’s has continually innovated, and our latest model exemplifies this spirit by offering our franchisees enhanced revenue streams and operational flexibility,” said Scott McIntosh, vice president of franchise development at Fort Worth, Texas-based Mr Gatti’s Pizza. “This new venture attaching our delivery and carryout format to convenience stores allows franchisees to capitalize on a compact, adaptable footprint, catering to today’s fast-paced consumer lifestyle with a premium, convenient dining experience.”
This new franchise model features a smaller, more flexible footprint, including a convenient pickup window that streamlines the ordering process, accommodating orders through a window or via the brand’s mobile app and online system, the company said.
Mr Gatti’s strategic franchising efforts for the new concept initially will focus on Texas and the Southeast, with future expansion plans targeting the Southeast, Southwest and Midwest regions.
Inspired by its standalone delivery and carryout models, Mr Gatti’s new footprint model offers operators a chance “to harness the company’s longstanding heritage and tried-and-true menu,” the company said, adding that the expected investment for this new model ranges from $374,000 to $652,866.
The model, designed for flexibility, caters to spaces ranging from 800 to 1,500 square feet and offers franchisees an opportunity in locations including travel centers, airports, amusement parks and more, the company said. The c-store model is the latest addition to the existing portfolio of franchising opportunities, which include family entertainment center and standalone delivery and carryout formats.
Mr Gatti’s Pizza first opened as The Pizza Place in Stephenville, Texas, in 1964. With a move to Austin in 1969 also came a name change, which paid tribute to the wife of founder James Eure, whose maiden name was Gatti. There are now more than 140 restaurants open and in development throughout Texas and the southeastern United States.
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