Donatos Pizza, one of the premier regional pizza chains in the United States, signed a franchise agreement for three restaurants in Erie County, Pennsylvania.

The stores will be developed over the next three to five years, with the first scheduled to open in Erie proper within the next six months. Company plans call for opening as many as five restaurants in the area over the next several years.

“Having been in the industry for years, I quickly recognized Donatos’ strong commitment to delivering excellence in everything that they do,” says Christina Vogel, a local entrepreneur who signed the franchise agreement. “At Donatos, it’s bigger than the pizza. The company promotes goodwill through its products, principles, service, and people. It’s something I feel deeply aligned with.”

Vogel developed her passion for pizza while working for Monical’s Pizza in Illinois for 10 years. Years later, she found herself yearning to open her own pizza restaurant and found Donatos as the perfect fit.

“We are extremely thrilled to be working with Christina and to be able to tap into Erie County’s vibrant and dynamic market,” says Donatos COO Tom Pendrey. “This franchise agreement is the latest example of our continued expansion efforts in Pennsylvania.”

Donatos Pizza was founded in 1963 in Columbus, Ohio, by 19-year-old Jim Grote. In 1999, McDonald’s purchased the chain, by then considered a gold standard in the pizza delivery. But in 2003, when the company later decided to refocus on burgers, Jim and his daughter, Jane, bought back Donatos.

Donatos has remained a favorite in Ohio and beyond. The restaurant serves strombolis, wings, oven-baked subs, salads, and desserts in addition to its Edge-to-Edge pizza, Donatos’ trademark, which comes with more than 100 pieces of pepperoni on it.

Along with the dine-in experience, Donatos also offers delivery and catering services, along with 26 toppings for customizable and signature pizzas.

Franchising, News, Donatos