Russo's to open first California restaurants

Russo’s New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen is expanding west.

The Houston-based Italian chain has signed a multi-unit agreement to open new locations in California this summer. The new restaurants San Joaquin, Danville, Stockton and Modesto, the chain’s first entry into the Golden State, will be owned and operated by first-time franchisees Dr. Shaukat Shah and his son Asad Shah.

The California restaurants will be 1,500- to 2,000-sq.-ft. in size, and feature an open kitchen design and a large outdoor patio. At Russo’s, customers can find unique menu items, party pizzas, pasta and more made from the Russo family recipes.

"During our visit to Russo's location in Houston while exploring various pizza franchise options, Russo's truly stood out among the competition,” said Shah. “The exceptional quality of ingredients and flavors convinced us to choose Russo's for our franchise venture and to establish multiple locations in California. What attracted us to owning a Russo's pizza franchise was the direct access to Chef Anthony Russo, the brand's founder, instead of dealing with a large corporation where personal connection might be lacking.”

Founded in 1989, Russo's New York Pizzeria has more than 56 locations across Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and Arizona. Company leadership has identified over 200 potential U.S. locations for future growth.

Russo’s joins a number of pizza chains that have announced expansion plans, including Marco’s Pizza and Papa Johns.

“The superior quality of our food sets our franchise concept apart from other pizza chains,” said Chef Anthony Russo, founder and CEO of Russo’s. “We are thrilled to expand our presence in California alongside Dr. Shah and Asad Shah, bringing the best New York-style pizza and authentic Italian cuisine to the local community."