News

1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza to have 80 units next year

1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza is on track to open 80 U.S. locations by the end of next year.

December 2, 2015

1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza is on track to open 80 U.S. locations by the end of next year, as well as the first international store in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The national franchise projects more than 170 units by 201,  and is generating more than 400 calls a week from people who want to open a franchise. There are five open locations and more than 25 under construction, according to a company press release.

Company founder Brian Petruzzi, 37, is no stranger to the world of startups. At age 11, he handled a 200-home newspaper delivery service, cut lawns in the summer and shoveled snow-covered New Jersey sidewalks in the winter. As a sophomore in college, Petruzzi had amassed more than $2 million in revenue through different businesses — everything from movie rental stores and frozen yogurt shops to spray-tan parlors and domain-holding companies, the release stated. Growing up in an Italian family, Petruzzi had a dream of opening a pizza restaurant like his grandparents had in Naples, Italy.

With the popularity of fast casual pizza, Petruzzi turned this into a reality in 2014 and founded 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza. Serving customizable, authentic Neapolitan pizza on hand-tossed dough and topped with more than 50 fresh ingredients, 1000 Degrees pizza captures American appeal and old world Neapolitan flavor, the release stated. Each pizza is familiar to New York-style pizza, but maintains the Neapolitan style with a thin, slightly-charred crust.