Top That! Pizza has broken ground on its first franchise location in Broken Arrow, Okla. The new store will be operated by franchisees Russell Leonard and Teresa Starling and is slated to open in mid-June.
"We had been looking for a restaurant franchise for a year and a half. After we reviewed Top That! Pizza's franchise program we knew right away that it was the one we wanted," Starling said.
The couple picked the location because it's on the corner of a strip center, which makes it easy to find. They plan on opening additional locations in Broken Arrow later this year.
This store is the first franchise unit facilitated by Top That Pizza's development agents Pat and Deborah Calhoun. The Calhouns are responsible for the concept's expansion strategy in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and North Texas.
Top That! Pizza, developed and owned by Jeff and Lori Walderich, is the world's first and only restaurant that specializes in customized, personal-sized pizzas. The concept lets guests oversee the creation of their preferred pizza in much the same way as they might in a sub sandwich shop, choosing from a wide selection of crusts, sauces, vegetables, meats and cheeses. Pizzas are often ready in less than 3 minutes.
"The wow factor isn't just that customers have so many topping choices or fast service. It's the fact that they pay a flat price no matter what or how much they put on their pizzas. That's truly what sets us apart," Lori Walderich said.
Top That! is headquartered in Tulsa, Okla. The company is currently negotiating several local, regional and international franchise agreements, and is one of the concepts included in Beautiful Brand International's roster of restaurants to help market and franchise worldwide.
