Fazoli’s

Fazoli’s is an Italian-American restaurant chain that specializes in fast casual dining. The company was founded in 1988 in Lexington, Kentucky, originally under the name Gratzi’s, as a sister concept to Long John Silver’s. Fazoli’s quickly built a reputation for serving affordable pasta, pizza, and breadsticks, which helped the brand expand rapidly in its early years. By 1993, Fazoli’s had grown to 62 restaurants, and it reached a peak of 400 locations nationwide in 2004.

Over the years, Fazoli’s has experienced several changes in ownership, most recently becoming a subsidiary of FAT Brands Inc. in November 2022. This acquisition marked a new chapter for the company, providing additional resources and strategic support for expansion.

As of December 2024, Fazoli’s operates 195 restaurants across the United States. The brand has adapted its approach in recent years by introducing flexible store formats, including traditional dine-in, drive-thru, and smaller express models. This flexibility enables Fazoli’s to enter a variety of markets, particularly suburban and mid-sized communities, and respond to evolving consumer preferences.

Fazoli’s has demonstrated ongoing growth through both company-owned and franchised locations, with recent efforts focused on expanding in the Midwest, Southeast, Texas, Florida, and Arizona. The company is actively seeking new franchisees and real estate partners, signaling a strong appetite for continued development in both established and new markets.

For commercial real estate professionals, Fazoli’s stands out as a stable, scalable tenant with a proven track record and the ability to adapt its restaurant formats to fit diverse sites. The brand’s ongoing expansion and support from a major parent company contribute to its credibility and momentum in today’s market.