According to the Dallas Morning News, “Operating under the assumption that the area needs another pizza chain, California-based Straw Hat Pizza opened its first Texas location Thursday in Flower Mound.”

“The chain — with 65 outlets, including 57 in California — plans to open a Richardson outpost next year. Launched in 1959, Straw Hat Pizza arrives in a region that already is home to chains such as Pizza Hut, Pizza Inn, CiCi’s Pizza, Mr. Jim’s Pizza and Chuck E. Cheese’s. That’s not counting smaller local favorites such as Campania’s and Olivella’s. Yet the big cheese at Straw Hat doesn’t see the market as too crowded. ‘We have big plans for Straw Hat Pizza in Texas,’ said Jonathan Fornaci, president of the San Ramon-based chain. ‘We have designed the new Texas restaurants large [enough] to provide a community gathering spot for adults with a full bar and big screen TV’s for any game or event, and for kids with a video arcade, redemption games, and a kid’s play area. The large format, our famous pizza and expanded menu of pastas and burgers will help us stand out from the many other pizza brands in Texas.’”