By Tracy Morin
In 2014, Andrew Dana and Chris Brady launched Timber Pizza Co. with a 1967 baby blue Chevy truck, a pizza oven on a trailer, and a dream. Two years later, they opened their first brick-and-mortar location, then scored a game-changing victory in 2017 when they won Best Pizzeria in America by Bon Appétit.
Fast forward to 2026, and Washington, D.C.-based Timber Pizza Co. is accelerating its neighborhood‑driven expansion, entering Georgia and expanding across the Mid‑Atlantic. Planned Georgia locations will serve Alpharetta and Cumming (expected to open by late 2026 or early 2027), with additional territories across the greater Atlanta area now under consideration.
Meanwhile, in the Mid-Atlantic, new storefronts are under development in Richmond and Alexandria, Virginia, following strong demand generated by Timber’s mobile oven at local festivals and neighborhood events. Richmond is slated to open in fall 2026, and the Alexandria location is in lease negotiations, with a targeted Q2 2027 opening. These follow now-established locations in McLean, Virginia, and Annapolis, Maryland, both of which opened in 2024. The brand also reports “active development deals and renewed interest across Northern Virginia, Charlottesville and the Hampton Roads/Tidewater region.”
“It’s been a great first half of the year for our growth and our continued focus on supporting franchisees. We’re thrilled with the progress and consistency across the system, and we’re excited for what the rest of the year will bring,” says Chris Brady, co-founder of Timber Pizza Co. “Whether it’s a new market or a city we’ve served for years, people want quality, community and a place that feels like home. That’s the foundation we’re building on as we continue to scale.”
In the first half of 2026, Timber Pizza Co. also made significant operational improvements that strengthened franchisee performance systemwide. “The brand focused heavily on inventory management, ensuring every franchise partner had a stronger grip on COGS and labor, resulting in the best financial visibility and consistency the system has seen to date,” according to a July report. “Looking ahead to the second half of the year, Timber Pizza Co. is preparing to roll out a new loyalty program and introduce improvements that streamline the customer ordering experience across all locations. Timber Pizza Co. continues to see strong guest loyalty as customer expectations shift in a tighter economy.”
Brady recently spoke to PMQ about these changes, current and future growth plans, and how its mobile and brick-and-mortar locations are working together to create a stronger brand that is increasingly infiltrating the East Coast.
PMQ: With 2026 bringing accelerated growth for Timber Pizza, what is driving franchise demand right now, and what gives you the confidence to expand into new territories?
Chris Brady: Right now, our focus on strengthening our current system and providing our franchisees with the tools they need to truly understand and improve their unit economics is resonating with prospects and new partners. We’re thrilled with the YOY growth our current stores are seeing and can’t wait to show an even stronger Item 19 in 2027.
We couldn’t be more excited about adding the Atlanta area to our footprint and are actively looking to expand further into the Carolinas while growing in our backyard here in the DMV. Some of our target markets include Wilmington, North Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; and Greenville, South Carolina.
PMQ: You cite inventory management and better visibility into COGS and labor as major operational improvements this year. Tell us about the concrete changes you made and what else makes you stand out in a competitive restaurant/pizzeria landscape.
Brady: We made investments in R365 software and ensuring that all our partners could better track inventory and have precise prime cost visibility. We are very excited to continue to provide the tools needed for everyone to better understand their business and grow intentionally.
Working with the right partners, who truly value the relationship with their communities and who want to be real people who represent Timber’s core values, is paramount to keeping our spirit alive as we grow. We think our authenticity, product and ability to get Timber any night of the week with dine-in, takeout or delivery helps us stay top of mind in a crowded arena.
PMQ: How does the mobile component and local-event strategy of Timber Pizza Co. complement your brick-and-mortar locations?
Brady: It’s a profitable marketing machine that also carries on the spirit of the origin of the company. We’re looking to increase visibility of the brand via more mobile initiatives, so we hope to get the wagons on the road more in markets that we are developing.
PMQ: How are you thinking about menu pricing, value and margins as food and labor costs continue to challenge pizza operators?
Brady: We focus heavily on supply chain relationships and believe very strongly in holding the line as a company before making decisions to pass cost increases onto customers. Over time, there have to be adjustments, but we try to ensure strong cost and waste controls in-house to avoid having to continually reevaluate menu pricing.
PMQ: What does Timber look for in a franchise partner today?
Brady: We’re looking for folks whose values align with ours, first and foremost. Ensuring we are aligned on being a good steward of the brand and wanting to build their own business with our support is critical. We are starting to attract candidates with successful business as well as franchising backgrounds who seek to open multiple locations—which is exactly what we hope for in this phase of our growth.
PMQ: As you look beyond 2026, what does “successful scaling” look like for Timber Pizza?
Brady: Right now, we are on track to hit our goal of 15 units by end of year 2027 and working diligently with our current and prospective partners to get to 22-plus units by end of year 2028. Ensuring we remain focused on investing in our team, technology and the systems needed to give great experiences is top of mind every day.
Tracy Morin is PMQ’s associate editor.
