Papa Johns is making a massive, strategic play to fuel its growth across the Northeast by completing a huge refranchising deal with one of its leading operators.
Chris Patel, the sharp leader behind Pie Investments, has officially assumed ownership and operation of a whopping 85 Papa Johns restaurants across the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore markets. This instantly makes Pie Investments one of Papa Johns’ largest domestic franchise partners, boasting more than 150 locations now under its control.
A Vision for Massive Expansion
But the growth doesn’t stop there. As part of this major strategic shift, Papa Johns and Pie Investments have announced aggressive plans to open an additional 52 new restaurants by the year 2030, spreading the promise of “Better Ingredients. Better Pizza.” across Greater Philadelphia, D.C., and Baltimore. Patel is clearly aiming high, with a personal goal of owning 250 restaurants by 2030.
“Chris Patel’s growth mindset and entrepreneurial spirit are exactly the qualities Papa Johns is looking to emphasize among our franchisees as we work to be the best pizza makers in the business,” said Ravi Thanawala, Chief Financial Officer and President, North America at Papa Johns.
Passing the Torch
The acquisition marks the end of an era for Colonel’s Limited, LLC, led by William Freitas, a pioneering and long-standing franchisee who opened his first Papa Johns back in 1993 and was one of the first in the pizza game to embrace online ordering.
Now, it’s Patel’s turn to build on that foundation. Patel credits the brand’s enduring commitment to quality for making it an attractive investment. “Papa Johns leadership is empowering franchisees to drive success, with tools to elevate our operations and enhance our customer experience,” he stated.
With 85 restaurants freshly acquired and 52 new doors set to open, pizza lovers across the Northeast should expect to see a lot more of that iconic Papa Johns box coming soon!