The pizza franchise is commemorating a notable opening after a long franchising journey.
Marco’s Pizza has announced the official opening of its milestone 1,000th store in Kissimmee, Florida. Founded by Italian-born Pasquale “Pat” Giammarco in 1978, the brand has since grown to an international name.
“Watching this company grow from our roots in Ohio to a beloved pizza brand across the country has been nothing short of remarkable,” said Jack Butorac, CEO. “We have the best quality product in the industry, a tremendous leadership team, a group of exceptionally dedicated franchise partners, and hard-working team members. As all these factors come together, we become an unstoppable force.”
The 1,000th store was opened by Kattya Barbaran and Rafi Vargas, immigrants, like the brand’s founder, who saw potential in the pizza concept.
“Growing up as a young child in the Dominican Republic, never did I think I’d someday have the opportunity to own my own business,” said Vargas. “This was made possible by finding an exceptional partner in Kattya – someone so dedicated and passionate, who shared an entrepreneurial mindset, that would propel us to open this milestone store.”
“While life throws you numerous challenges, your success lies in your ability to rise above the circumstances, remain determined, and put your people first,” said Barbaran. “Despite our hardships and in the face of a global pandemic, this is exactly what we did – and it allowed us the opportunity to achieve this dream we’ve both had since childhood.”
Throughout 2020, Marco’s remained committed to growth and opened 51 new stores, with upward of 80 locations in total expected to open by the end of the year.
“Marco’s is a people-first organization – meaning that we’re only as strong as our franchisees, dedicated team members, and loyal customers,” said Tony Libardi, president and COO of Marco’s Pizza. “We have built an incredible culture that continues to strengthen as we expand our nationwide footprint, and this is just the start of the tremendous growth opportunities that lie ahead.”
