America's Next Big Pizza Chains

For years only a few large delivery chains dominated the national pizza scene , while mom - and - pop crusade over a slice of the fast - casual pie . But in the last decade or so , there ’s been a boom of small-scale pizza range expansion that has shaken Big Pizza to its greasy core .

These 11 regional chains – which set out from old - schooltime favorites just now stepping outside their cities , to venture - punt artisan dough upstart , to tried - and - true delivery performance finally catching up to their elders – are poised to introduce into the internal conversation .

Aurelio’s Pizza

Est . 1959 , Homewood , ILNumber of locations:42What makes it alone : Chicago has a national repute for cryptical dish , but the true Windy City style is in reality a straightforward - sliced crispy cracker Earth’s crust that goes by many name – our Chi - town mozz - question source call it " tavern mode . " Aurelio ’s is the perfect suburban family expression of this particular slice , but it also pacifies natives with a inscrutable " stuffed " Proto-Indo European and " calabereses , " which the rest of the world name to as calzones . Why it might blow up : Because certain intellectual nourishment writers might have celebrated youthfulness soccer gain ground here and drop all of their allowance on theSimpsonsarcade game , but also because it ’s just now starting to expand outside of the Midwest and crispy , thin crust is one of the more underappreciated stylus in the pizza canon .

Pieology

Est . 2011 , Rancho Santa Margarita , CANumber of locations:98What makes it unequaled : Two words : unlimited toppings . Pieology is n’t the only one on the listing with that promise , but its topping armoury boasts 78 billion possible pizza termination based on combination of crust ( ashen , wheat berry , gluten - gratis ) , sauces ( firm red , alfredo , herb butter , pesto ) , the common marrow / cheeseflower / veggie suspect , and " after bakes " sauces like fiery Buffalo or BBQ.Why it might blow up : project your own pie is nothing rotatory , but the merriment factor in unleash unlimited toppings while walking down a Chipotle - esque ordering line of descent is a combining for success , as tell by the string ’s explosive growth of 32 new locations in California alone during 2015 . Plus , it of late received an investment fromPanda Express .

MOD Pizza

Est . 2008 , Seattle , WANumber of locations:106What induce it unique : MOD has gone all - in alongside Pieology with a catch - all , undivided - price system of rules that boost customization , but it ’s also craft a inclination of speciality pies that seem innovational yet grounded in reality , like the clean - sauced Dominic ( asiago , impudent chop basil , ruby-red onion plant , slit love apple , mild sausage).Why it might burn out up : MOD is helmed by a former Starbucks exec so you know it can scale , the innovative second - chances hiring mentality earns it a level of employee loyalty seldom seen in the food industry , and the twinned offering of total customization and reliably delicious theme song pies corners both the originative and faineant consumer .

Artichoke Basille’s Pizza

Est . 2008 , New York , NYNumber of position : SevenWhat makes it unique : Artichoke earn the fatheaded non - Chi Proto-Indo European on this list . The expert is go past with a " underground recipe " of adequate parts artichoke magnetic inclination and stringy cheese . It ’s unparalleled late - night munchie material , and deserves fillip points for a satisfying vodka sauce satisfying gash and nontraditional toppings like crab . Why it might blow up : The gewgaw and excess of the artichoke dip top pee-pee it a flashy export , and seam around the door every Nox of the weekend think of it ’s already having trouble keeping up with demand . Plus , the owner / operator are now host of a newCooking Channel pizza tourism show , which means the fundament is laid for a internal elaboration .

Marco’s Pizza

Est . 1978 , Toledo , OHNumber of locations:660+What makes it unequalled : Playing the delivery game just like the big boys , Marco ’s offers specialization American - vogue Proto-Indo European – like the doubled Pepperoni Magnifico – and the latest pizza pie technical school – like usage crusts – but with an accent on Old World Italian roots . Why it might muff up : It already is . Although Marco ’s does n’t have the ubiquitousness of the big four ( Domino ’s , Papa John ’s , Pizza Hut , Little Caesars ) , this range of mountains is by far the most established on our list but still persist one of the quickest - growing overall solid food strand in the country .

Gino’s East

Est . 1966 , Chicago , ILNumber of locations:16What make it singular : Gino ’s cryptic - dish genus Pan pizza is tight to a tomato sauce and mozzarella casserole than a traditional Proto-Indo European . The style has become synonymous with Chicago , but has serious critics , like Jon Stewart who bid it anabove - ground marinara swim syndicate for so-and-so . We do n’t agree with him , though . Why it might botch up up : There ’s no other local chain with such revered name realisation , and its five - position expansion to Texas proves that it can act upon out of doors of Chicagoland .

PizzaRev

Est . 2012 , Los Angeles , CANumber of locations:32 , with 18 more on the wayWhat makes it unparalleled : LA is a notoriously subpar pizza townspeople , which has led to a flood lamp of profligate - casual pizza construct look to fill the void . One of the loss leader of the Cali - fade rotation is the customs - Proto-Indo European baron PizzaRev . Like several others on this listing , it run on an assemblage - line , work up - your - own model , but the secret weapon is a four - ton , open - flame , stone - bed oven that come through the temperature arm race . Why it might float up : Despite the similarities to other chain like 800 Degrees and Pieology , there are enough slices ( ! ) of the pizza concept pie out there that Buffalo Wild Wings has ingest note as aminority shareholderand the chain ’s first franchise .

Blaze Pizza

Est . 2012 , Irvine , CANumber of locations:112 , plus 50 more come soonWhat get to it unequalled : Blaze ’s simoleons is made from custom flour that respond well to long zymolysis and rapid Captain Cook times . This results in a light , chewy impudence with just the right gingersnap , served at a low price point . It ’s also boldly going where no slicing joint has work before with a forthcoming breakfast - style pizza . Why it might blow up : We tap Blaze as a fast - casualchain to learn back in 2014when it only had 12 locations , and now it ’s at nigh 10 time that telephone number . And with ovens that can crank out a pie every 180 moment , it does n’t seem like it will be slow down down anytime soon . It does n’t hurt that Lebron " The Chosen One " James is on board as an early investor , and that it ’s already eyeing location outside of the country .

Pie Five Pizza

Est . 2011 , Dallas , TXNumber of locations:85 , with 400 announced locations on the wayWhat makes it unique : An offshoot from another successfully crummy concept ( Pizza Inn ) , the " five " in Pie Five mention to the bit of minute that it takes to craft one of its made - to - order pizzas . Like other mountain chain on this list , the oven is build for slight - and - crispy swiftness ( 145 seconds per pie ! ) and the topping are n’t too far outside the box , but it stress originative add - ons like Sriracha marinara , “ magic dust ” powdered cheese , and oregano mixture . Why it might blow up : A deep ( stunner ) knowledge of the pizza pie sphere through its previous concept means that Pie Five has an insider boundary on many of the other dissipated - casual pizza pie construct .

800 Degrees

Est . 2012 , Los Angeles , CANumber of locations:15What makes it unique : Alongside PizzaRev , 800 Degrees led the heraldic bearing in LA ’s fast - casual pizza pie scene , but with an emphasis on complete a traditional Italian flavour visibility with super - fresh ingredients , a bargainer ’s caseful ’s Charles Frederick Worth of dissimilar cheeses , and seldom - seen toppings like fried egg . Why it might blow up : It ’s second outpost was at LAX so it ’s been prim travelers ' cravings from the start , the founder was the guy behind Umami Burger so he knows a little something about conglomerate expansion , and it ’s already conquered Dubai .

Jet’s Pizza

Est . 1978 , Sterling Heights , MINumber of locations:390+What makes it unparalleled : The problematical Detroit - style pizzaWhy it might blow up : Detroit - style pizza – think of it like an airier version of Sicilian , but with a wall of semi - burnt , caramelise cheese backed up onto the corner of the square - cooking pan crust – is perhaps the unadulterated combination of New York sensitivity and deep - dish excess ( yes , Chicago , there are other kinds of rich dish ) . spurt ’s is the chain to shell when it come to getting it near enough to the tangible matter to keep full - full-blooded Michiganders and would - be converts believing . The chain – like Domino ’s and Little Caesars before it – started as a suburban Detroit secret before spreading down the I-75 corridor and then making a hard right turn for a westbound expansion . Folks may not know they ’re wipe out Detroit - vogue pizza when they have it , but they sure as hell will remember the name Jet ’s once they ’ve demolished a few squares.– Andy Kryza , elderly editor

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