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Fazoli’s looks to grow locally

CEO, a Fairmont East grad, outlines plans in visit to Dayton area.

Fazoli's CEO, Carl Howard, was in the Dayton area on Monday scouting for locations to build two new restaurants. Howard stopped at the Moraine location for lunch.

Staff photo by Ty Greenlees Fazoli's CEO, Carl Howard, was in the Dayton area on Monday scouting for locations to build two new restaurants. Howard stopped at the Moraine location for lunch.

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By Mark Fisher, Staff Writer Updated 12:42 AM Tuesday, November 1, 2011

DAYTON — Fazoli’s is scouting for locations to build two new restaurants in the Dayton area: one in the Miller Lane area of Butler Twp. and one in the Fairborn-Beavercreek area, CEO Carl Howard said Monday during a visit to the Miami Valley.

Howard’s visit also corresponded with the unveiling of a new “Expand Your Taste” menu for the Fazoli’s chain nationwide, including a “pick your pasta” option and new flatbread sandwiches and pizzas, including multiple offerings under 400 calories.

The Fazoli’s chain is based in Lexington, Ky., but has developed some links to the Dayton area: its CEO is a 1983 graduate of the former Fairmont East High School in Kettering, and the company last year chose Dayton to test-market a new enhanced-service concept in which glassware and silverware replaced plastic and paper, and servers delivered meals to guests’ tables.

The concept went over so well during the test-marketing that it has been replicated at all 128 company-owned restaurants nationwide, at a cost of $4 million, Howard said. The chain has another 93 franchise-owned restaurants that will change over to the new service concept by the end of 2012.

Fazoli’s believe the Dayton market is ripe for expansion. “We really haven’t developed the northern part of Montgomery County,” Howard said. He declined to reveal specific sites Fazoli’s is considering.

If the deals move forward, they would become the sixth and seventh Fazoli’s locations in the Dayton area. The other five are located in Miami Twp., Sugarcreek Twp., Moraine, Huber Heights and Troy.

“The restaurants in Dayton are doing great,” Howard said. In their first full year of operating with the enhanced-service concept, Dayton-area Fazoli’s stores’ sales rose 7.5 percent in 2010, and are recording another successful year, up about 6 percent, so far for 2011, the CEO said. Overall, the brand is into its second year of same-store company and franchised sales growth, a Fazoli’s spokesman said.

Fazoli’s was founded in Lexington in 1988 and was acquired by Sun Capital Partners in 2006.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2258 or mfisher@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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