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

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Blackjack Pizza vs Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Blackjack Pizza Franchise
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
Investment $168,300 - $392,300$295,000 - $750,000
Franchise Fee $35,000$49,500
Royalty Fee 3%7%
Advertising Fee -2%
Year Founded 19831992
Year Franchised 19881998
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years+5
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years+5
Renewal Fee $1K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Blackjack Pizza Franchise
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • No Restaurant experience necessary but helpful Minimum financials are $175K to $400K in investment capital and a $600K to $1.0MM net worth

    Financing Options

     
    Blackjack Pizza Franchise
    Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes-/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/Yes
    Equipment No/Yes-/Yes
    Inventory No/Yes-/Yes
    Receivables No/Yes-/-
    Payroll No/No-/Yes

    Training & Support

     
    Blackjack Pizza Franchise
    Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
    Training Ongoing assistance & classroom training available8 Week GM & Key Supervisor Training and Certification
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives-
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising-
    Operations 25% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 15 - 30

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    On site pre and post opening training and operational support with quarterly QA Visits.

    Expansion Plans

     
    Blackjack Pizza Franchise
    Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion No-

    Company Overviews

    About Blackjack Pizza

    Blackjack Pizza was founded in 1983 by Vince Schmuhl. After working several years for Dominos Pizza, the founder felt that there was plenty of room for competitors in the fast growing pizza delivery business. At that time, Dominos Pizza was the only major player in the pizza delivery business in the Rocky Mountain region and he felt that customers would really appreciate an alternative to Dominos Pizza. The first Blackjack Pizza store was opened on June 29, 1983 in Federal Heights, CO. The second store opened in Greeley, CO in February of 1984. Vince continued to open new stores, mainly in the Denver Metro Area. By 1986, there were six corporate owned stores and one franchisee in operation. In 1988, Blackjack officially became a franchisor using the concept of an owner/operator franchisee at each store location. Several corporate stores were sold to franchisees, and other franchisees were added to the system through conversions of independent operators who saw the value in being part of Blackjack Pizza. We have continued to add franchise outlets to the system under a policy of slow, controlled growth. There are 45 stores in operation in four states.

    About Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen

    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.