MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. — Hungry Howie's Pizza, a 550-store chain known for its flavored pizza crust, plans to open 10 locations in Oregon and southwest Washington by 2011.
According to a news release, the 10-store franchise agreement covers the Oregon cities of Portland and Bend, and the Washington city of Vancouver. The first Hungry Howie's pizzeria in the area is expected to open in Portland by June.
The franchisees are Portlanders Thomas Bauer and Frank Piacentini. Bauer's background includes operations, training and new store openings for a California hamburger chain. He also has served as vice president of training and education for an Oregon-based international finance company for 10 years.
Piacentini is a residential and commercial real estate developer who worked for several quick- and full-service restaurants in his youth.
"I discovered Hungry Howie's when I was living in California, and the flavored crust concept struck home," Bauer said. "There's nothing like it in Oregon or southwest Washington, and that point of distinction will set us apart from all the other look-alike chains."
