Domino's Pizza vs Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise Comparison

In 1960, brothers Tom and James Monaghan borrowed $500 to purchase DomiNick's, a pizza store in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The next year, James traded his half of the business to Tom for a Volkswagen Beetle. In 1965, Tom Monaghan renamed the company Domino's Pizza LLC. The first Domino's Pizza franchise store opened in Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 1967. Tom Monaghan retired in 1998, selling 93 percent of the company to Bain Capital. In addition to regular, pan and thin-crust pizza, Domino's products include bread sticks and buffalo wings. Domino's Pizza operates more than 6,000 stores in the United States, Canada, Europe and Africa.

The total investment ranges from $144,450 to $582,500 for a Domino's Pizza Traditional Store and $101,450 to $573,500 for a Domino's Pizza Non-Traditional Store. The franchisor estimates the payments made to them and their affiliates together with Initial Fee payments will range from $84,750 to $167,500 for a Domino's Pizza Traditional Store and $65,750 to $158,500 for a Domino's Pizza Non-Traditional Store.

   

#16 in Canada's Top franchises

Using the family recipe for hand-tossed dough, the sauce made from fresh-crushed California tomatoes, and imported Italian cheese blends, Anthony became the sole owner and chef of his first restaurant Russo’s Pizza in the early 80’s. "It was 800 square feet. I had a pizza oven, a dough mixer and two tables. That's it. I could only sit eight people.” A few years later, he created Anthony’s Pizzeria, located in Clear Lake, Texas, and soon moved to Houston.

For almost a decade, Anthony refined his menu using classic Italian family recipes and zeroed in on the perfect New York-style pizza. In 1992, Russo’s New York Pizzeria opened in downtown Houston, Texas and proved to be a success.

 

Russo's Restaurants is a national and international franchisor of the fast casual and casual dining brands Russo's New York Pizzeria and Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen. Based in Houston, Russo's Restaurants are composed of a mix of corporate and franchised locations across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida and Hawaii. Russo's has entered international markets as well, with locations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. There are an additional 20-plus units in development both in the United States and internationally. Chef Anthony Russo has created his concepts from years of applying his unique, family recipes featuring New York-style pizza along with a broad variety of handcrafted pasta creations, calzones, salads, sandwiches, soups and desserts, reflecting his commitment to his New York roots where food and family come first.