Franchisee Karla Tomas plans to open two more Russo’s Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen restaurants in South Florida by the time she sends her first child off to kindergarten. Ms. Tomas is the owner and original South Florida franchisee of the brand at opened at 14910 Pines Blvd. in Pembroke Pines in early 2012. The unit has registered annual sales of about $2-million since it opened. According to reports in the South Florida Business Journal, she wants to duplicate that kind of success with two more locations in the tri-county area. She is seeking spaces for the additional restaurant locations. A new mother, Ms. Tomas gave birth to a baby girl in March. Director of franchise development for the Russo’s brands, which includes Russo’s New York Pizzeria restaurants, Jim Carr explains that Ms. Tomas’ business is strong and he expects she and other new franchisees can support up to 15 locations in South Florida. “We’re interested in adding locations in Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale and throughout the greater Miami market,” he said. Russo’s Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen restaurants require a space of about 4000 to 7000 square feet, whereas the Russo’s New York Pizzeria brand works well in 2000 to 3000 square feet. Carr says the brand also has interested franchisee prospects planning to expand the Russo’s brands in the Tampa Bay market. “We feel that Florida’s strong economy coupled with the state’s demographic profile, our featured New York Style pizza and authentic Italian menu of scratch made pastas, soups, salads, calzones and Italian flat-bread sandwiches will be a huge hit.” Russo’s Restaurants has 72 locations open and under development in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Florida, Hawaii and the UAE, with plans to add another 30 locations over the next three years.
CATEGORY: Upscale Casual
Chain Name: Russo’s Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen
Company Name: New York Pizzeria Inc..
Street Address: 5847 San Felipe, Suite 1730, Houston, Texas 77057
Tel: 713/821-1322 Fax: 713/821-1318
Email: [email protected] Website: www.nypizzeria.com
Menu Specialty: Authentic Italian upscale utilizing a 1000 degree coal fired over.
Introduced:
No. of Locations: Over 30 in total operating Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and the Middle East and more than 60 under development.
Areas of Operation:
Types of Location: United States & International
BusinessType (corp., franchise, jv): Franchise
Size Req’d: 4000 to 7000 sq.ft.
Special Requirements (patio, drive-thru, etc):
Contact Name: Anthony Russo – CEO ([email protected])
Jim Carr – Director Franchise Development (832/980-6407 [email protected])
REAL ESTATE REPRESENTATIVES:
FRANCHISE REPRESENTATIVES:
PARENT COMPANY: Russo’s Franchise Group Inc., Houston, Texas (800/555-5555)
Related Chains: Russo’s New York Pizzeria
Last Report: Restaurant & QSR Expansion Report #137 Last Update:
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