SEWELL N.J. Ralph Venuto, founder of the Hollywood Tan franchise chain, has entered the restaurant industry with the opening of his first Venuto’s Old World Pizza outlet, in West Deptford, N.J. Venuto said he plans to build the brand into a national chain, and has signed 40 franchisees to date.
Venuto did not disclose the unit economics of the concept. It features a menu developed by executive chef Scott Walsack, who formerly served in the kitchen of the Trump Taj Mahal casino-hotel in Atlantic City.
Tom Romano, described as a longtime franchising veteran, is serving Venuto’s Old World Pizza Inc. as president and chief operating officer. Venuto holds the title of chairman.
Venuto said he plans to grow from the company’s home Jersey base here through rapid expansion of the Delaware Valley, followed by a jump to the West Coast. The company indicated that the entrepreneur followed a similar development pattern with Hollywood Tan, which presently numbers more than 300 franchised tanning centers.