Empire Pizza’s Expansion Continues with New Restaurant Opening in South Charlotte

Empire Pizza Opens Sixth Location in Charlotte

Charlotte’s growing culinary scene has welcomed a new entrant as Empire Pizza is gearing up to unveil its sixth local restaurant in July. The family-run business continues its expansion with the opening of a spacious 7,600-square-foot restaurant, the brand’s largest to date, located at 8500 Pineville-Matthews Road in Charlotte. The grand opening is scheduled for July 10 at 11 a.m. with plans for food specials and giveaways.

What’s on the Menu?

Empire Pizza is renowned for its New York-style pizza and simple American-style pasta dishes. Other popular items on the menu include chicken wings, burgers, and sandwiches. The business prides itself on its in-house preparations—right from the dough to the sauces—all prepared in-house. The homemade meatballs have especially gained popularity among patrons.

The loafers can look forward to a varied menu consisting of Italian comfort food, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, and salads. The new location has been designed meticulously with an arcade area keeping the youngsters in mind. There are provisions for a private dining room, which can be availed for special events and gatherings. The Pineville-Matthews restaurant will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a special ‘Kids eat free’ offer on Monday nights.

Additional Expansion in Sight

In addition to the Charlotte opening, Empire Pizza has a 3,100-square-foot location under construction in Rock Hill. Located at 343 Technology Center Way, near the Rock Hill Sports & Events Center, it is expected to open later this year.

According to the president of the pizza brand, Constantine Doulaveris, Empire Pizza is actively looking at more growth opportunities. The company, which opened its first pizza and deli in Rock Hill in 2008, is planning to open 10 corporate-owned stores over the next two years. Catering services form a significant part of the business model and have been constantly growing.

Franchising Opportunities on the Horizon

Empire Pizza strongly believes that franchising offers enormous potential for expansion. The brand has finalized its Franchise Disclosure Document, a necessary step to initiate the franchising process. The identified restaurants for franchising will range between 3,600 and 6,000 square feet. The total investment to open a franchise is estimated to range from $725,975 to nearly $1.2 million, inclusive of a franchise fee of $50,000. The primary focus of expansion, for now, will be the Carolinas and the Southeast.

With plans of expansion and diversification in place, Empire Pizza is setting the stage for a culinary dominance in Charlotte and beyond.