Nobody ever accused Iowa residents of being “cheesy,” until now, as Pie Five Pizza announces plans to open at least five locations in the Des Moines area. Hawkeye and Cyclone fans won’t have to wait long to get their custom, artisan pizzas that bake in just 145 seconds and feature a choice of more than 28 fresh toppings, seven savory sauces, and four made-from-scratch crusts. Iowa’s first Pie Five location opens in mid‑May across from the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, north of Des Moines. A second location will soon be under construction in the Des Moines Galleria.
It’s a dream come true for Pie Five franchisee and University of Iowa graduate, Carl Dissette, as he looks to upgrade the fast-casual pizza options in Iowa. Dissette already owns two Pie Five restaurants in Indiana and has another two locations under construction as part of a 15-store deal in the Hoosier state. However, the fast casual pizza concept is still relatively new to Iowa. Dissette and his wife, Brenda, an Iowa State graduate, will also reside in Downtown Des Moines.
Dissette is also one of the original founding franchise owners of Jimmy John’s, opening one of their first locations 20 years ago. Today, that chain has grown to more than 2,000 locations with Dissette owning six successful restaurants in Chicago.
“I have a knack for spotting the next big thing, and let me tell you, Pie Five will be the next big thing,” says Carl Dissette, Pie Five Pizza franchise partner. “After opening my first two Pie Five locations in Indiana, I just knew I had to bring the fast casual pizza concept to the Des Moines area. Iowans will love the variety and authenticity of ingredients and the unlimited toppings for one low price.”
As a growing fast casual concept, Pie Five grew by 265 percent in 2015. At Pie Five Pizza Co., guests can choose from more than a million combinations of farm-fresh ingredients, artisan sauces, and handcrafted crust variety. Pies bake in just 140 seconds in a custom-designed, state-of-the-art oven. By the time the guest arrives at the register, their hot, bubbly, pizza perfection is ready. Guests can also add one of Pie Five’s freshly tossed handmade salads or a decadent home-baked brownie or cookie pie to their meal.