JUST IN: Local pizza chain to open 44 new locations in Texas

A Kettering-based pizza chain took a large leap toward establishing a national footprint today with the announcement of a 44-store deal in Texas.

Rapid Fired Pizza, which has been adding new locations swiftly across the Miami Valley and beyond, has signed an area developer agreement with David Perez of San Antonio, Texas, to develop 44 Rapid Fired Pizza locations throughout the Lone Star state, Rapid Fired officials said this morning, July 5, in a release.

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The news comes less than three months after a similar announcement that Rapid Fired Pizza had signed agreements with two developers to add as many as 175 new locations in Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina and South Carolina.

RELATED: Kettering-based Rapid Fired Pizza to expand with 175 new locations (April 27, 2017)

Perez said in the release that Rapid Fired Pizza “has a strong business model and a dedicated team.”

Perez is a licensed insurance agent whose family has been developing restaurant concepts since the 1980s and which now owns more than 60 restaurants. Perez hopes to open a Rapid Fired Pizza in Austin, Texas before the end of the year, Rapid Fired officials said.

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Rapid Fired has opened 16 new restaurants in 18 months, and has another 13 under construction. Rapid Fired Pizza officials say they are marketing nationwide for franchisees and area developers, and based on initial response, expects strong growth in the coming years.

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Rapid Fired restaurants utilize a quick-service concept, featuring a serving line in which customers pick out the toppings for their 11-inch thin-crust or 9-inch pan pizza. Customers can choose from eight sauces, eight cheeses, more than 30 toppings, and 19 dipping sauces to build their pizza, or try one of the 10 craft pizzas on the menu. Salads, breadsticks, and desserts are also available, as are craft beer and wine at most locations.

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