Pie Five Opens In Detroit
Family duo brings fast, fresh Pie Five Pizza to Metro Detroit
SOUTHFIELD, MI – The first of many “fast-casual” Pie Five Pizza Co. locations opened in Michigan Friday.
Nestled in a strip mall among a Five Guys and Fries and a Potbelly Sandwich Shop on the northwest corner of 12 Mile and Telegraph Road, the new pizza shop can crank out fresh-baked personal pizzas in under five minutes.
Franchise owner John Draper II and his father J.D. Draper have ambitious plans for the rest of the speedy pizza spots, which they plan to open in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio.
There are already plans for two more Metro Detroit locations in the works in Southfield and West Bloomfield.
They’ve got the experience to keep the Pie Five Pizza Co. train moving through the midwest.
J.D. has over 40 years of experience as a franchisee in the Detroit area. John said getting in on his own franchise was natural.
“That’s what we did on weekends,” John said, laughing. “Hop in the car and go to a restaurant.”
For John, 37, Friday marked his 69th restaurant opening since 2005.
J.D., who’s been in the business since 1971, said his number was too high to count.
Despite countless restaurant openings, Friday’s was special, according to the duo.
Opening the “Chipotle of pizza” satisfies the needs of a community.
Pie Five Pizza allows customers to pick from four crusts, including a gluten-free option, and a slew of toppings.
J.D. and John said their toppings are always fresh; the cheese is hand-grated every day, and the pizza dough is made fresh every morning.
Most of the menu consists of organic ingredients, too, John said.
“Fresh flavorful products…are the way to go,” he said.
Pizzas can either be custom-made or built from any of their signature recipes. From there, the pizza is put through a custom-made oven that cooks the pie in under three minutes.
And, like a Chipotle, customers can watch their meal being built the whole way through.
The pizzas run $6.99 a piece, and are cut into six small slices. Value meals, which include a drink and side salad or dessert, cost $9.99.
Pie Five also serves salads.
The Drapers said they’re happy to be back working in Metro Detroit.
“Southfield is probably one of the most diverse communities (in Metro Detroit),” John said.
His father said the energy currently coming from downtown Detroit played a role in the placement, too.
“We certainly want to be part of that rebirth,” he said. “I always wanted to come back home.”
The men will be busy, they said. They’re looking at a number of locations for the Pie Five Pizza franchise to take root in.
J.D. said he wants their company, Viridian Group, to be the number one restaurant group in the U.S.
“Or the best, period,” he said.
Pie Five Pizza Co. is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The newest location is located at 24532 West 12 Mile Rd.
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