Fazoli’s, the fast-casual Italian chain restaurant found throughout the country, is getting ready to open a new location in Mesa at 953 N. Dobson Rd.
The company recently made its Arizona return when Kind Hospitality, the franchise owner led by CEO Nava Singam, announced the state’s first location is coming to Sky Harbor Airport. Although fans of the brand were excited about the announcement, it left some disappointed in having to visit the airport to get their Fazoli fix. Now, Singam told The Arizona Republic that he signed a lease for Fazoli’s second Phoenix location, this time at the Mesa Riverview shopping center, replacing the now-closed Arby’s.
The company is expected to open this new location in the next six months and will feature all the classic Italian dishes found at all other locations. Some menu items include famous breadsticks, pizza, baked pasta, subs, and salads. Unlike other locations, the new Mesa site will offer a special featuring multiple half-portioned pastas plus sliced pizzas, salad, and a drink. This is only the beginning for Kind Hospitality Group, which plans to open a total of nine locations in Arizona.
Fazoli itself is on track to become one of the fast-growing franchises in the country. Last year alone, the company finished with eight new store openings and 18 development agreements, according to a press release. On top of returning to Phoenix, Fazoli’s also re-entered Dallas, Texas; Reno, Nevada; and Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition, the brand announced they plan to make its Pennslyvania and Louisiana debut and develop additional locations in several existing markets, including Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Texas.
If that wasn’t enough, the company has earned several highly regarded rankings and recognitions throughout the year, including being ranked multiple times by Franchise Business Review as an Award-Winning Franchise and getting ranked No. 7 in Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers and Shaker’s list for the Top 75 brands that showcase innovation, nimbleness, and creativity.
“We’re incredibly thrilled and humbled by our success and the honors the brand has received this year,” President Doug Bostick said in a press release. “The awards are a testament to Fazoli’s commitment to excellence and the highest standards of quality and service. New franchise partners have taken notice, and we’re expecting 2023 to be yet again another strong year of strategic growth for Fazoli’s.”
