A growing national chain with Michigan ties will be opening this March in the Cranbrook Village Shopping Center on Eisenhower Parkway. The 3,600 square foot
Tony Sacco's Coal Oven Pizza will share a building with Potbelly Sandwich Shop, a move that franchise founder and East Lansing-native Chuck Senatore says will benefit the new restaurant, as well as others in the shopping center.
"There's a lot of synergy in that area," says Senatore. "The other restaurants are complementary, but not competing. We like being in busy area, typically with higher end tenants like Whole Foods."
Though Tony Sacco's began in Florida, Senatore's Michigan roots have given his home state big role in the restaurant's
early growth. The Ann Arbor location will be the third Tony Sacco's in the state, with locations in Grand Rapids and Traverse City forthcoming. Franchise-wide, the restaurant will be the eleventh or twelfth location, depending upon the opening date of a Charlotte, North Carolina branch. Twenty new Tony Sacco's locations are underway, and five additional franchise locations are in negotiation.
"The nice thing is that the franchises are locally owned and operated," Sentore says.
The secret to the restaurant's success, according to Senatore, has been the unique made-from-scratch cooking methods, as well as an economy that has many people seeking out franchise opportunities.
"People right now are looking for looking to make their own careers," he says. "They are deciding they want to control their own destiny a little bit. This way, they can be their own boss."
The local owner of the Ann Arbor Tony Sacco's is Keith Gulian. The restaurant will feature a full bar and will employ approximately 30 workers.
Source: Chuck Senatore, franchise founder
Writer: Natalie Burg
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