A Toledo, Ohio-based pizza chain will open its first two locations in Maryland this fall, and more are on the way.
Marco's Pizza has two restaurants planned for Essex and Pasadena, said DJ Patel, who is managing the chain's expansion to Maryland. He expects both to open in late September or early October.
Marco's serves pizzas, subs, chicken wings and salads.
Once the first two locations are up and running, Marco's will add six to 10 locations in 2017, Patel said. He's working with several multi-unit franchisees to launch the brand in Maryland. Two franchisees are working to get the first locations up and running, and Patel expects two or three more franchisees to sign on with the company soon.
Start-up costs for each restaurant run between $221,592 and $546,592, depending on the size of the space, according to the Marco's website. Franchisees must have $100,000 in liquid assets and a net worth of $350,000.
Patel declined to give the exact addresses of the Essex and Pasadena locations because the leases have not yet been finalized.
Opening the Maryland locations has taken longer than expected, Patel said, because of local permitting processes.
"It just takes time in Maryland, it's not that easy," he said.
When Marco's opens its doors in Greater Baltimore, it will join the ever-growing list of pizza restaurants opening in the area. Recent additions include Blaze Pizza, &pizza and Pie Five Pizza Co.
"This is actually a great market for a pizza business," Patel said. "The good part about us is our product speaks for itself."