Russo’s New York Pizzeria Franchise

Values & History

Our Story

The son of first-generation Italian immigrants, Chef Anthony Russo grew up in a New Jersey home where the kitchen was the center of family life. There was always cooking and baking at home, and many of the ingredients came from the family garden. Just the way Grandpa and Nonna Russo did back in Avellino, Italy.

These experiences stuck with young Anthony as his family moved to Galveston, Texas, in 1978. His father opened Russo's Italian Restaurant, which quickly became a local favorite. Just like that, Anthony found a second home in the restaurant kitchen. By the age of 12, he was learning family recipes from relatives who flew in from Naples and Sicily each summer. Making pizza and scacciata (calzones) became his passion, and in 1992 Russo's New York Pizzeria was born.

Who We Are

Italians understand the magic created when you incorporate the joy of great conversation with the pleasures of beautiful food and drink. At Russo's, we strive to recreate this sensation between family and friends at every meal. It's not just the food that keeps our guests coming back, they come for the Russo's dining experience.

Industry Performance

All across the globe, the fast-casual dining concept has really caught fire, and Russo's owns a unique slice of it. According to PMQ Pizza Magazine, pizza is a $135 billion industry world-wide, with the U.S. making up the largest share at $45.1 billion. People have a serious interest in high-quality food these days, and we take that interest very seriously.

Russo's New York Pizzeria is an award-winning franchise, ranked on Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 list among others. We now have more than 40 stores in domestic and international markets. Russo's is a proven concept and the brand is expanding nationwide.

Training & Support

Russo's training program lasts 6-8 weeks. No classroom here. You will get hands-on training in a live, existing restaurant, to experience the reality of owning your own restaurant.

• On-site training prior to grand openings
• Back-of-the-House training
• Front-of-the-House training
• Initial store setup
• Hands-on crew training
• P.O.S. training
• Recipe training
• Delivery and catering training
• Fully supported training
• Lead trainer stays one to two weeks post-open
• Ongoing support as needed

Ideal Candidate & Qualifications

Years of doing business have taught us that future success depends on the fit between the business and the franchisee. Our successful franchisees demonstrate the following personal characteristics:

• A sound background in business development
• A willingness to be hands-on in the running of the business
• The ability to work independently within the structure of the Russo brand
• A well-established network of local partners, authorities, and opinion leaders
• Good standing within the community
• A track record of maintaining a successful business

Purchasing a Russo's New York Pizzeria Franchise

We've spent years developing successful business strategies for initial investments that are among the lowest in comparable restaurant industries. To start your own Russo's New York Pizzeria you will need strong credit, capital to invest (or access to third-party financing), at least $200,000 in liquid assets, and a minimum net worth of $750,000. The estimated initial investment starts at just $454,350.