Peter Piper Pizza Sets Sights on San Bernardino: Franchisee Will Open 5 Stores in California; Part of Nationwide Expansion

For 20 years, Warren Kingsbury made successful investment decisions with his head. This time his heart crept into it. The result? Five new Peter Piper Pizza locations to open in Southern California over the next five years.

PHOENIX (Business Wire EON) December 3, 2007 -- For 20 years, Warren Kingsbury made successful investment decisions with his head. This time his heart crept into it. The result? Five new Peter Piper Pizza locations to open in Southern California over the next five years.

There are no Peter Piper Pizzas in San Bernardino or Riverside counties. The revenue streams from pizza and games are an incredible opportunity. And my three grandsons can't wait.

Kingsbury’s interest in the brand began when his 8-year-old grandson Hunter asked his “Papa” why there was not a Peter Piper in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Hunter and his brothers had enjoyed the food and fun at the popular pizza restaurant when living in the Phoenix area, but they recently moved to California. Kingsbury always loved the Peter Piper experience so he immediately explored the idea of opening one near his grandsons’ house in San Bernardino County.

Turns out Kingsbury, also a Rancho Cucamonga resident, didn’t buy one Peter Piper franchise. He bought five. Kingsbury hopes to open his first restaurant in Rancho Cucamonga in 2008 as part of the company’s nationwide expansion. His other restaurants are scheduled to open their doors over the next five years across Southern California’s Inland Empire.

“I jumped at the chance of being part of a unique brand that is also a great business opportunity,” said Kingsbury, who has 20 years experience operating successful franchises. “There are no Peter Piper Pizzas in San Bernardino or Riverside counties. The revenue streams from pizza and games are an incredible opportunity. And my three grandsons can’t wait.”

For Kingsbury, it’s all about the pizza, the games and the Peter Piper brand. He said the high-energy environment, the great food and the economic opportunities that include multiple lines of revenue (food and gaming) made owning a Peter Piper franchise too good to turn down.

Peter Piper Pizza, which started in 1973 with a single restaurant in Glendale, Ariz., has grown into one of the top 20 pizza restaurant chains in the nation, totaling 139 locations between the U.S. and Mexico. Kingsbury said he is excited about owning a pizza franchise that features an 8,500-to-10,000 square-foot facility with dozens of video and redemption games.

Peter Piper offers made-from-scratch pizza, appetizers and desserts and a weekday, all-you-can-eat pizza and salad lunch buffet.

Kingsbury’s restaurant in Rancho Cucamonga will fill a void of family entertainment in this growing suburban city of 170,000 in Southern California. He said that Peter Piper’s franchise development team has provided help with marketing, site selection and overall operations – as the company plans to do in similar suburbs across the United States.

Frank Sbordone, President and CEO of Peter Piper Pizza, said Kingsbury’s franchise experience and his embrace of the Peter Piper experience makes him a perfect fit.

“We are thrilled to be bringing Warren Kingsbury on board,” Sbordone said. “We’re excited at the opportunity to introduce the Peter Piper brand in new markets and share it with new franchise partners. We hope this is the start of something big.”

About Peter Piper, Inc.

Peter Piper, Inc., is based in Scottsdale, Ariz., and is the Southwest’s leading family pizza and entertainment restaurant chain. The company and its franchisees operate 139 restaurants in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico and the Republic of Mexico, and have been satisfying guests for more than 30 years. The restaurant locations offer an abundance of dining and entertainment options. For more information about owning a franchise, contact Don Pijut at Peter Piper, Inc. at (480) 609-6413 or visit www.peterpiperfranchise.com.