Advertisement

Header Utility Menu

  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Events

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

  • Login

Virginia Business

Mobile Menu

  • Issues
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Startups
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • 2022 Virginia Business Political Roundtable
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2023

Advertisement

Header Primary Menu

  • Issues
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • Issues Archive
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Startups
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • 2022 Virginia Business Political Roundtable
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2023

Home News Regions Northern Virginia Pizza: Have it your way

Pizza: Have it your way

Published November 16, 2015 by Paula C. Squires

A pair of Virginia entrepreneurs are dishing up a new concept for a fast casual pizza restaurant.  Dave Wood, a former operator of 17 Dominos franchises in Northern Virginia, is the cofounder and CEO of Firenza. He and business partner, Dave Baer, have opened two Firenza restaurants, in Fairfax in March and in Alexandria earlier this month, and have plans for more.

In 2016, they want to expand by 15 to 20 restaurants, with as many as five of them expected to be in Virginia.

“The concept is similar to Chipotle. Instead of starting with a burrito, you start with a pizza crust, and you the customer direct the process,” says Wood.

Customers can pick from nearly 40 toppings, including six sauces, seven cheeses, nine meats and 17 veggies.

“Unlike most other fast casual pizza chains where the crusts are premade and machine-pressed, our pizza dough is made in house daily and hand-stretched to order right in front of the customers,” says Wood.

Once the pizza dough is stretched, customers can go with one of two price points:  A 10-inch pizza with cheese and one topping is $6.99. Pizzas with more than one topping – be it two or 20 – cost $7.99. The pizzas are baked in an open flame, stone-hearth oven.

Other menu items include wings, meatballs and custom salads. Beverages include beer and wine.

Firenza’s Alexandria restaurant can seat 55.

According to Wood, the company began franchising efforts in September to enhance the company’s growth. The franchise fee is $40,000 for a first restaurant, with total costs, including construction, equipment, etc., $400,000 to $500,000. Industry franchises that can take over an existing space can lower costs to about $250,000, says Wood. The franchise fee drops to $25,000 for any second or additional locations.

With fast-casual pizza a multibillion-dollar industry, Firenza’s owners are certain they can make a go of their new concept. “Fifty-five percent of pizza consumers now purchase fast-casual pizza at least once per month, and Firenza is looking to capitalize on this growing demand and multiply across the country,” Baer said in a statement.

 

Related Stories

Virginia Business logo

HCA Virginia Health System starts construction on new emergency center in Loudoun County

S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. to manage 14 housing properties in Arlington

Virginia Business logo

Groundbreaking held for new Veterans Care Center in Fauquier County

Trending

Dollar Tree CEO resigning; former Dollar General CEO to replace him

Rivers Casino Portsmouth opens to big crowds

Norfolk’s MacArthur Center mall listed for sale

Framatome CEO retiring; CFO to be promoted

Va. bill aims to reduce mental health stigma for health care workers

Sponsored Stories

In the New Year, Aim for Better Cybersecurity

4 innovative ways to create capacity

WHERE IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN YOU NEED IT?

P.A.I.N.T. Your Financial Mountain

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Blazing trails in the digital landscape

Advertisement

Advertisement

Trending

Dollar Tree CEO resigning; former Dollar General CEO to replace him

Rivers Casino Portsmouth opens to big crowds

Norfolk’s MacArthur Center mall listed for sale

Framatome CEO retiring; CFO to be promoted

Va. bill aims to reduce mental health stigma for health care workers

Sponsored Stories

In the New Year, Aim for Better Cybersecurity

4 innovative ways to create capacity

WHERE IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN YOU NEED IT?

P.A.I.N.T. Your Financial Mountain

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Blazing trails in the digital landscape

Get Virginia Business directly on your tablet or in your mailbox!

Subscribe to Virginia Business

Advertisement

Advertisement

Footer Primary Menu

  • virginiabusiness.com
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Footer Secondary Menu

  • Industries
  • Regions
  • Reports
  • Company News
  • Events

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Sign Up

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Footer Utility Menu

Copyright © 2023 Virginia Business. All rights reserved.

Site Maintained by TechArk