Trend-setting fast-casual pizza chain makes Cornhusker State debut Friday
Pizza lovers in Nebraska are about to get their first taste of individual pizza perfection with the impending arrival of the nation’s leading fast-casual pizza concept.
Omaha residents will be pleased to know they’re first in line.
Pie Five Pizza Co., the trend-setting pizza eatery renowned for its handcrafted, personalized pizzas and high-quality ingredients, will debut its first area restaurant at 1303 South 72nd Street – at 72nd and Poppleton – in Omaha on Friday, March 6. That’s when locals will get their first taste of artisan-style, personal pizzas using only the freshest ingredients, baked to order at one great price. The “five” in Pie Five means it all happens in five minutes or less!
The Omaha restaurant will mark Pie Five’s 38th location in ten states (Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia) with more than 400 announced company-owned and franchise units under contract in 14 states and Washington, DC.
Franchise operator Jim Stevens and his team already operate three successful Pie Five restaurants in Wichita, Kansas and they’re looking forward to introducing the brand to the Cornhusker State next. Stevens also operates the Applebee’s restaurants in Omaha.
“I can’t tell you how much fun it’s been to introduce pizza lovers to a new and better way of enjoying their favorite meal, with our emphasis on virtually unlimited variety, fresh, high-quality ingredients and the speed of service that today’s on-the-go consumer demands,” said Stevens, owner of Big Cheese LLC. “It’s unlike anything anyone here has ever seen.”
As part of its grand opening festivities, the new restaurant will donate half of its sales from pre-opening training events held this week to the YMCA of Greater Omaha.
“One of the great privileges we have as business owners is using our platform to support our local communities,” said Stevens. “Driving donations to an extraordinary organization like the YMCA is one of the best byproducts of bringing Pie Five to Omaha and elsewhere around the region.”
Here’s how the Pie Five experience works. As each guest steps to the counter, our Pie-artisans help them choose their favorite crust – artisan thin, classic pan, whole grain Neapolitan or gluten free thin. Then they choose from seven sauces, four cheeses, eight meats and 16 veggies; and, best of all, there’s no penalty for piling on…there’s more than a million combinations of handcrafted personal pizzas to choose from!
Pie Five bakes each perfect personal pizza in a specially designed oven. By the time the guest arrives at the register, their hot, bubbly, pizza perfection is ready. And whether they select from one of Pie Five’s specialty recipes or create their own, it’s all the same great price: A handcrafted, artisan pizza that would cost $13-15 in an upscale restaurant for under $7.
Pie Fivers can also add a fresh, hand-made salad, tossed right in front of them while their pizza rolls through the oven. Dessert offerings include Turtle brownies and chocolate chip pizza cookies, as well as seasonal confections, all baked fresh daily.
“We’re moving as quickly as possible to bring this game-changing concept to the people of Nebraska,” said Rhod McNee, vice president of Big Cheese LLC. “Once you come in and see it for yourself, you’ll understand what all the fuss is about. It’s no wonder Pie Five is sweeping the nation.”
Pie Five Pizza has been named among Fast Casual’s 2014 Top 15 “Movers & Shakers,” a 2012 Hot Concepts winner by Nation’s Restaurant News and one of “10 Hot New Restaurant Chains from Established Brands” by Forbes.com.
The restaurant will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. A complete menu and more information are available at piefivepizza.com.
Pie Five is a subsidiary of Rave Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE), based in the Dallas suburb of The Colony, Texas. Rave owns, franchises and supplies nearly 300 Pie Five and Pizza Inn restaurants operating domestically and internationally. Pie Five Pizza Co. is the leading brand in the rapidly growing fast-casual pizza space, offering individual handcrafted pizzas with fresh ingredients made to order in less than five minutes. For more information, please visit PieFivePizza.com.
