Pizza Rustica comes from humble roots but is now in 14 cities and growing
Miami Beach, FL (RestaurantNews.com) When Pino Piroso sold his small apartment in South Beach and took an advance on his credit card to open the first Pizza Rustica in 1996, he never envisioned a company 15 years later with over 20 franchises and growing. Pizza Rustica was founded with a simple idea. Piroso wanted to open an authentic neighborhood pizzeria like those found on the streets of Rome.
In the beginning, Piroso and his small crew worked day and night tossing pizzas and serving customers. Perhaps the biggest challenge back then, was educating the customers. That is because Rustica doesn’t serve up the usual slice. What makes Pizza Rustica unique is it serves huge rectangular slices of pizza with creative recipes such as Spinach and Blue cheese, Shrimp Pesto and the classic Rustica with prosciutto, artichokes and olives. The variety is impressive. Rustica even serves chocolate pizza.
Pizza Rustica is arguably the first pizzeria to serve high quality pizza by the slice at affordable prices. Over the years, customers inevitably started asking about franchising. So many people inquired, Piroso decided to give it a go. The first franchise opened in 2001 in Ft Lauderdale. Other locations in South Florida such as Delray Beach and Hollywood soon followed. Now fans can enjoy Pizza Rustica in many places throughout their travels. Pizza Rustica is now in 14 cities including internationally in Paris and Santa Domingo.
Piroso still owns and operates the three Pizza Rustica restaurants in Miami Beach. He says he likes to operate the pizzerias because it allows him to know what the franchisees are experiencing. “If the price of cheese goes up, I can tell the franchises I understand” says Piroso. It also allows for Pizza Rustica to keep the menu fresh and interesting, as Piroso is always creating new menu items.
Having fresh and delicious product certainly has helped the popularity of the chain. All of the ingredients are top quality and everything including the dough is prepared daily. Piroso says there are not even freezers in the pizzerias.
Some key awards and good press certainly haven’t hurt either. Among its many accolades, Pizza Rustica has been “Rated Excellent!” by Zagat, named “Best of Miami” by the Miami New Times, and featured in the New York Times, CNN and Food Network. Many of Pizza Rustica’s current franchisees were loyal customers first. “Our fans are very passionate”, says Piroso, “often after eating in our pizzeria, customers contact us to open a franchise in their own communities”. Judging by the lines out the door, it looks like the new generation of Rustica franchisees is already in the making.
About Pizza Rustica
Headquartered in South Beach, Florida, Pizza Rustica is a successful pizza restaurant operating and franchising company. Founded by Pino Piroso in 1996, Pizza Rustica has over 22 units located in 14 cities throughout the United States and Europe, most of them owned by independent franchisees.
For additional information or copy of Pizza Rustica media kit contact:
Pizza Rustica
O. (305) 535-8882
melissa@pizza-rustica.com
