Cicis Pizza wants to give more communities a place for unlimited pizza, pasta, salad and dessert. The buffet chain has appointed Kimberly Thompson executive vice president of development as it pursues a goal of doubling its restaurant footprint over the next five years.
For those of us who like a pizza dinner to leave room for several different slices, that is a welcome ambition. Cicis describes itself as a nearly 300-restaurant chain, with Texas, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama and Florida among its priority markets for new development.
Thompson will work on recruiting franchise operators and evaluating opportunities with the company’s leadership, operations and real estate teams. Her previous franchise-development roles include Bonchon, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, Jack in the Box, Del Taco and Philly Pretzel Factory.
The October 14 company announcement presents the five-year expansion as a goal. It does not attach a list of new addresses or opening dates, so there is still more to learn about where those additional pizza buffets might land.
There is an existing pipeline behind the broader ambition. In July, Cicis said it expected three restaurant openings by the end of 2026 and had another 15 locations in development. Those figures describe the plans disclosed at that time; the new appointment announcement does not provide a location-by-location update.
The chain’s growth plans keep the buffet at the center of the experience, supported by carryout, catering, delivery and arcade revenue. Its franchise materials offer operators several game-room sizes, including layouts of up to 3,000 square feet. The familiar combination of another slice and a few games remains part of what Cicis wants to bring to new neighborhoods.
The expansion effort follows several years of investment in the business. Cicis emerged from Chapter 11 in March 2021 under D&G Investors, then added updated restaurant designs, operating technology and a national rewards program. In its July update, the company reported 50.6 percent systemwide sales growth over five years.
For diners, the next milestones will be new developments and openings, particularly in the states Cicis has identified. More nearby choices for a pizza buffet is a plan we are happy to follow, one new restaurant at a time.
