A software executive is bringing a Southern fast-casual pizza brand to central Ohio.
Your Pie, based in Athens, Ga., sold the rights to franchises in central Ohio to Matt Iwaszkiewicz. He plans to open a store near Ohio State University in the fall with another near Polaris probably next year. If successful, he sees a couple more stores in the near term in Dublin and Gahanna.
He and his wife, Katy, hit on Your Pie after a lengthy search for a fast-casual pizza franchise, or chains that combine higher quality ingredients with quick service. They owned a hair-cutting franchise about a decade ago and preferred to invest in food this time.
"I am perpetually hungry," Iwaszkiewicz said. "We did quite a bit of research, talked to a few from California. We made a very informed decision. We went down (to Georgia) and really liked the management team at Your Pie.
"Most importantly, it tasted amazing, that’s what pushed us over the finish line."
Iwaszkiewicz will own the first Your Pie in Ohio. The menus includes individual pizzas, pasta or salad built assembly-line style, with pizzas baked in three and a half minutes. There will also be six to eight craft beers, mostly local, on tap and wine. If it sounds familiar, it is. Cucinova, Sbarro's fast-casual pizza concept is built around a similar style. Blaze, Pizza Rev and others are also in Columbus.
Your Pie, about 10 years old, is one of the oldest fast-casual pizza brands, and has about 40 locations in 13 states.
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