The roster of fast-casual restaurants in the Twin Cities is about to get more crowded, with the addition of another rapid-serving pizza outlet, this one promising to have your made-to-order pie before you in less than five minutes at one price that covers any combination or quantity of ingredients.
Pie Five Pizza, based in suburban Dallas, is in the midst of aggressive expansion, going from its current 29 locations in nine states to 400-plus in 16 states and Washington, D.C. The company said its first Minnesota outlet will open in March, but a precise location has not been nailed down, other than it will be in the Twin Cities.
"We do not have a signed lease at any location at this time," spokesman Ladd Biro said Tuesday. "[We are] working on multiple letters of intent."
In its announcement Monday, which also included trumpeting new dining spots coming in Chicago and Houston, Pie Five Pizza described the Twin Cities as "a hotbed of fast-casual restaurants."
Already in the Twin Cities with a similar concept are Solos Pizza Cafe, Punch Pizza, Pieology Pizzeria, PizzaRev and the Pizza Studio.
Pieology Pizza held a grand opening Tuesday in Maple Grove and has other outlets operating in the Highland Park area of St. Paul and Mankato. Vikings offensive lineman Matt Kalil and his father own the Pieology franchising rights in Minnesota.
At Pie Five Pizza, the diner at the counter chooses from various options of crusts, sauces, cheeses, meats and vegetables. The creation goes in Pie Five Pizza's patented oven for less than 2½ minutes and is ready to eat.
The price for every pizza, no matter which ingredients are chosen or how much is piled on, is $7.
