Type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Restaurants |
Genre | Fast casual |
Founded | March 2011 in Fullerton, California as Pie-ology Pizzeria |
Founders |
|
Headquarters | , United States |
Number of locations | 140 [1] (September 2018) |
Areas served | |
Products | Pizza, salad, desserts, drinks |
Website | pieology |
Pieology Pizzeria is a Tustin, California-based pizza chain within the fast-casual dining restaurants category. Founded in 2011 by Carl Chang, the brother of former tennis player Michael Chang, [5] Pieology's mission is to "turn one of America's favorite food into an affordable and interactive experience". [6] Pieology's main rivals are Blaze Pizza and MOD Pizza. [7] By October 2018, Pieology had a single unit in Mexico plus approximately 140 units in 23 American states and territories with more than half of those restaurants located in the state of California. [1]
Similar to their competitors, Pieology offers individual, artisan style pizzas, which are baked in a high-temperature open-flame oven. Customers begin by choosing which of the ingredients they'd like on their pizza pie. As customers work their way down the service line, staff assemble a pizza based on customer instructions. When they arrive at the end of the line, their custom-built pizza is ready to be cooked.
Pieology offers several signature pizzas, as well "build your own" custom pizzas. In addition, their menu includes salads and desserts.
Each Pieology restaurant is meant to be an "environment that [creates] inspiration", with a quote board in every store that features inspirational quotes. [5]
The first Pieology was opened in March 2011 in Fullerton, California, just a few blocks away from the campus of California State University, Fullerton, by partners Carl Chang and James Markham. [8] During its first few months of operation, the business was known as Pie-ology Pizzeria. [9] Chang and Markham were previously involved with the development of MOD Pizza. Markham left the partnership the following year. [10] After the success of the first location, a second location was opened in nearby Irvine (near the campus of University of California, Irvine) in November 2012. [11] For the first few years, initial growth was restricted to company-owned locations in Southern California.
In September 2014, Pieology expanded into the state of Minnesota, opening a location in Mankato with the assistance of Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Matt Kalil as the local franchise owner. [12] During the same month, Pieology expanded into the state of Arizona, opening a location in Tucson. [13]
By October 2014, the company had 35 units in eight states. [14]
In 2015, Pieology was the fastest growing restaurant chain in America, according to data from Technomic. [5]
In March 2016, Pieology expanded into the state of Hawaii, opening a location in Aina Haina with the help of franchise partner Cotti Foods. [15]
In May 2016, Pieology opened its first location outside the continental United States in the city of Tamuning in the American territory of Guam with the help of a local franchise partner. [16]
In 2016, Pieology received an investment from Andrew and Peggy Cherng, the founders of Panda Restaurant Group. [6] [17] Later in that year, Pieology acquired one of its rivals, Project Pie. [18]
In January 2018, Pieology opened their first location outside of the United States in the Polanco neighborhood of Mexico City [19] with the help of Mexican franchise partner OPFRA S.A. de C.V. [20]
A third location in Mexico opened in September 2019 near Anahuac University in Mexico City. [21]
In March 2018, Pieology announced plans to expand into Spain with a focus towards a franchise model via a licensing agreement with the Comess Group. [22] The first Spanish restaurant opened in Madrid in September 2018. [23]
In July 2020, Pieology opened their first Chinese location in Shanghai via a franchise agreement with TZG Partners. [24]
In February 2016, the company announced plans to open locations in Canada. [25] As of September 2021 [update] , no franchise partner has step forward to make these plans a reality.
In July 2021, Camyabco Ltd. signed an agreement with the company to open its first U.K. location in London. [26] [27]
Marie Callender's is an American restaurant chain. Its headquarters are in the Marie Callender's Corporate Support Center in Mission Viejo, Orange County, California. As of May 2022, the company has 25 restaurant locations in California, Nevada, and Utah.
Panda Express is an American fast food restaurant chain that serves American Chinese cuisine. With over 2,200 locations, it is the largest Asian-segment restaurant chain in the United States, where it was founded, and is mainly located in North America and Asia. Panda Express restaurants were traditionally located in shopping mall food courts, but the chain now operates units in many other environments and formats, including stand-alone restaurants, as well as universities, casinos, airports, military bases, amusement parks and other venues.
Baja Fresh is an American chain of fast-casual Tex Mex restaurants founded in Newbury Park, California in 1990 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona and is owned by Canadian franchisor MTY Food Group. The chain emphasizes fresh ingredients, each restaurant featuring a self-serve salsa bar.
Uno Pizzeria & Grill, or more informally as Unos, is a franchised pizzeria restaurant chain under the parent company Uno Restaurant Holdings Corporation. Uno Pizzeria and Grill is best known for its Chicago-style deep dish pizza. Ike Sewell opened the first Pizzeria Uno in 1943.
BJ's Restaurants, Inc. is an American restaurant chain, headquartered in Huntington Beach, California. Some locations feature microbreweries that supply beer to other locations in the chain. The chain operates under the names BJ's Restaurant & Brewery, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, BJ's Grill, and BJ's Pizza & Grill. BJ's menu features pizza, beers, appetizers, entrees, pastas, sandwiches, salads, and desserts.
Sbarro, LLC is an American pizzeria chain that specializes in New York-style pizza sold by the slice and other Italian-American cuisine. In 2011, the company was ranked 15th in foreign sales among U.S.-based quick-serve and fast-casual companies by QSR Magazine. In 2008, Sbarro was rated the #1 Quick Service Restaurant in the Italian segment by Entrepreneur magazine. Not all reports were positive, as the food quality had been criticized, with a suggestion that this was a factor that led to two bankruptcies. Sbarro has over 600 locations in 28 countries. Sbarro stores are located in shopping malls, airports, service areas, and college campuses, as well as in The Pentagon, American naval bases, and casinos.
Carl Chang is an American entrepreneur, real estate investor, business executive and former tennis coach. He founded the pizza chain Pieology, and is active in real estate investment businesses. He is the older brother and former coach of tennis star Michael Chang.
Pei Wei Asian Diner, LLC, doing business as Pei Wei Asian Kitchen, ) is an American restaurant chain serving Pan Asian fare, operating in at 119 locations in the United States. Pei Wei's dishes are made to order in an open concept kitchen using cooking methods like wok firing. The restaurant offers guest customization that includes vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Grimaldi's Pizzeria is an American pizzeria chain from the New York City area with several restaurants throughout the United States. Its most famous restaurant is under the Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn at 1 Front Street, next door to its original location. Zagat Survey rated Grimaldi's the No. 1 Pizzeria in New York in 2007. With a carry-out and delivery service model in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2022 it had 43 restaurants in operation overall. It does not sell slices, only whole pies, which are cooked by coal-fired brick oven. It also sells wines and appetizers, as well as calzones. Among deserts are cannoli and tiramisu, as well as New York-style cheesescake.
The history of pizza begins in antiquity, as various ancient cultures produced basic flatbreads with several toppings.
Pie Five Pizza is an American fast casual restaurant chain specializing in personal pizza. The brand is owned by Rave Restaurant Group, which also owns Pizza Inn. As of July 2021, Pie Five operates 33 restaurants with locations in the following states: Arkansas, California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Texas.
MOD Pizza is a Seattle, Washington-based fast casual pizza restaurant chain based in the United States. Founded in 2008, MOD has more than 500 locations as of May 2021 in the United States and Canada. MOD is a company that is claimed by its owners to be "more about the people than the pizza" and to focus on paying living wages and providing employees with opportunities to give back to the community.
Blaze Pizza is a Pasadena, California-based fast-casual dining restaurant chain that serves pizza. Founded in 2011 by Elise and Rick Wetzel of Wetzel's Pretzels, Blaze Pizza was modeled after Chipotle's made-to-order approach to serving customers. Basketball player LeBron James is one of the original investors in the chain.
La Salsa is a chain of fast-casual Tex Mex restaurants founded in Los Angeles in 1979 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona and is owned by Canadian franchisor MTY Food Group. The chain emphasizes fresh ingredients, and each restaurant features a self-serve salsa bar.
El Pollo Loco, Inc., is a restaurant chain based in the United States, specializing in Mexican-style grilled chicken. Restaurant service consists of: dine-in, take-out, with some locations offering drive through options. The company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, and operates about 500 company-owned and franchised restaurants in the Southwestern United States.
Slapfish is a fast casual seafood restaurant chain founded by Andrew Gruel. Headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, as of 2018 there are over 11 locations in the Southwestern United States, with new locations opening in other states including Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas.
Bruxie is a Southern California-based fast casual restaurant chain founded in 2010. They primarily specialize in fried chicken waffle sandwiches.
Rotolo’s Pizzeria is an American pizza restaurant chain that was established in 1996 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as a single pizzeria. It operates as both company-owned stores and franchises under the banner of Rotolo's Pizzeria and Rotolo's Craft and Crust, with 32 locations in 6 states. Its headquarters are in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.