TAMPA Fla. Dough Developers Inc., a newly formed subfranchisor of Marco’s Pizza based here, recently signed a deal with the Toledo, Ohio-based pizza chain to open more than 200 units throughout the state of Florida over the next seven to 10 years.
Dough Developers, whose principles include restaurant veterans Glenn Ajmo, Scott Decker and Jon Gaudineer, opened its first Florida store last spring in New Port Richey, a fast-growing area on Florida’s west coast.
Decker said that his group plans to develop five restaurants and has pending deals to sign two leases in New Tampa. He added that the other three units are projected to open within two years, and one of the five stores would be a training store for the entire state. Other locations will be sold to franchisees, he said, noting that Dough Developers is close to inking a deal with an individual who plans to open 20 locations in the Lakeland and Orlando areas.
The first Marco’s Pizza opened in 1978. Today there are approximately 150 stores.
Gaudineer also owns eight Subways and one Tijuana Flats restaurant in Pasco County through his other company, Restaurant Development Associates. His second Pasco County Tijuana Flats is scheduled to open next week, and he said he plans to open two more in the next 12 months. Winter Park, Fla.-based Tijuana Flats is a fast-casual Tex-Mex chain with more than 50 restaurants.
Ajmo also is a franchisee of Desert Moon Fresh Mexican Grilles and operates two units in New Jersey.