Russo’s New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen, the Houston-founded pizza and Italian restaurant franchise, says it will cut its franchisee fee by half for multi-unit developers in Texas as a limited-time incentive through the end of this year.
If signed by December 31, development agreements covering three or more Texas restaurants will receive 50% off the initial franchise fee. That reduces it from $35,000 to $17,500 per qualifying restaurant.
The offer is part of a push to grow the brand’s Texas footprint, with Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin and additional Houston trade areas as priority markets.
Russo’s operated 30 U.S. restaurants at the end of 2025, with locations across Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona and California. Twenty-four of those 30 restaurants are franchised. Russo’s also has locations in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates and has signed development agreements for Sacramento, California, and Mexico City.
“Texas is where this brand was born and where we know the customer best,” said Chef Anthony Russo, founder and CEO of Russo’s New York Pizzeria. “We built this incentive for operators who want to open a group of restaurants, not just one. Lowering the entry cost on a three-store commitment is the fastest way we know to put the right owners in the right Texas markets.”
Russo founded the chain in Houston in 1992, and franchising began in 1998.
According to Item 19 of the company’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, the top 50% of U.S. franchised Russo’s restaurants averaged $1,042,444 in net sales in fiscal year 2025, and the top 25% averaged $1,368,586. These are historical net sales figures for 21 franchised restaurants open a full 12 months, not profit or owner income, and individual results vary.
Russo’s operates a full-service Italian kitchen, with menus built around New York-style pizza, house-made dough and sauces, house-made sausage, fresh pasta, lasagna and calzones, served through dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering.
Russo’s restaurants typically occupy 1,800 to 3,500 square feet in suburban markets and lifestyle centers.
The Texas incentive applies to new development agreements for at least three Texas locations signed by December 31, with timely openings required. It is not available for single-unit agreements and cannot be combined with other offers unless approved in writing, the company said. Candidates must meet the brand’s standard qualifications, including $250,000 in liquid capital. Markets and territories are subject to availability and approval.
Russo’s offers franchises in 36 states and Washington, D.C., with registrations pending in New York, Maryland and Hawaii, and reviews international developers on a case-by-case basis.
