Dayton-area company to open 60 restaurants in California

A locally-based restaurant is preparing to open 60 stores in the Golden State.

Ray Wiley, the entrepreneur behind Hot Head Burritos and Sumera Sushi, said California has been added to the long list of states where his Rapid Fired Pizza will open.

As food writer Mark Fisher first reported on July 5, the company recently signed a

deal with David Perez of San Antonio, Texas that indicates plans to open 44 stores in the Lone Star state.

>> MORE: Local pizza chain to open 44 new locations in Texas

The Kettering-based pizza business and a developer plan to open 60 franchise stores in California as part of a 10 years deal, Wiley said.

He said five or so stores will be open in the middle of the state within the year.

He said he could not disclose the developer’s name because the contract is under negotiation.

Rapid Fired signed agreements in April with two developers to add as many as 175 new locations in Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina and South Carolina.

>> MORE : Kettering-based Rapid Fired Pizza to expand with 175 new locations

The pizza restaurant has opened 16 new restaurants in 18 months, and has another 13 under construction.

>> MORE: Hot Head founder launching quick-pizza concept

Wiley said as many as 30 new restaurants are expected to be open this year. Another 25 are expected to be added in 2018.

“We have just tons of activity going on right now,” Wiley said.

He said franchisees are looking for Rapid Fired locations in several states.

Rapid Fired uses 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.

“We have really good food,” Wiley said. “It is a really good concept.”

>> MORE: Pizza wars poised to re-ignite with ‘fast-casual’ chains eyeing SW Ohio

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