Smaller, more compact build-outs are big these days in the restaurant industry. For the latest proof, look no further than Atlanta-based Your Pie, the pioneer of fast-casual pizza. The company just announced a redesigned restaurant model “built to improve efficiency and scalability for franchise partners.”
One of the new model’s key traits: a smaller, more flexible footprint of roughly 2,000 square feet.
In a press release, Your Pie said it’s “entering a pivotal growth chapter as it sets its sights on expanding its franchise footprint nationwide.” A relatively small footprint will certainly make that easier and reflects a broader trend taking hold across the pizza segment and the wider restaurant industry.
By scaling down to around 2,000 square feet or even less, restaurant brands can significantly reduce build-out and occupancy costs while opening the door to a wider range of real estate opportunities, such as second-generation spaces and in-line storefront spaces in high-traffic areas like strip malls. In a market where the better locations are harder to secure, that kind of flexibility can be a major advantage for growing chains and their franchisees.
Back in 2021, Oakhurst, California-based Pizza Factory rolled out the Pizza Factory Express model starting at 1,000 square feet. Pizza Hut and Papa Johns have been opening much smaller stores even while shutting down their older unperforming locations. Buffalo Wild Wings introduced its fast-casual concept, Buffalo Wild Wings Go, with an 1,800-square-foot prototype in Atlanta. The company’s COO, John Bowie, reported in 2024 that the new model saw a 140% increase in takeout and delivery business in just six weeks. And Del Taco now has a small-format concept spanning just 1,200 square feet.
If you’re an independent pizzeria operator, this trend toward smaller footprints also means it could be easier for chains to get a foothold in your community. Additionally, the model aligns with the continued rise of off-premise dining. With more orders flowing through digital channels, franchisees ask themselves: “Do we really need that much dining space when pickup and delivery is where the money’s at?”
Streamlined kitchens and simplified processes can also help address ongoing labor challenges by making stores easier to staff and operate consistently across multiple locations.
Steve Amlani, founder of the three-store Scratch Pizza brand in California, has noted that his first store opened 10 years ago in a space covering just 1,000 square feet. “The smaller footprint forced discipline,” Amlani wrote for PMQ Pizza earlier this year (link below). “Every labor hour mattered. Every SKU mattered. Every square foot had to produce. That constraint shaped the system.” He added that “the smaller footprint didn’t limit demand, but, rather, concentrated it.”
Related: Think Smaller: 3-Store Operator Explains What Actually Works for Indie Pizzerias Today
For its part, Your Pie said it spent 2025 refining its restaurant model and operational strategy by opening eight stores. In addition to the smaller footprint, other updates include streamlined kitchen equipment and cooking processes; expanded online ordering capabilities; and an “enhanced ordering model designed to elevate the guest experience.”
Your Pie has also broadened its catering program, enabling franchisees to better serve group dining, office meals, and event-driven occasions as off‑premise demand continues to rise. And it has invested in non-traditional campus locations and new company-owned restaurants.
Your Pie, a southern chain from the start, has its eye on what it calls high-growth Southeast markets such as Columbia, South Carolina; the Atlanta metro area; and the Chattanooga/Knoxville corridor. “Fueled by business-friendly policies, lower costs of living and continued population growth, the Southeast is expected to remain one of the top regions for franchised business expansion in the U.S., with projected growth of 1.7%,” according to a Your Pie press release.
“As we continue to refine the guest experience and evolve the menu, we’re also building a brand that is ready to grow,” said Lisa Dimson, CMO of Your Pie. “Our focus is on expanding with passionate franchise partners who want to bring handcrafted pizza, genuine hospitality, and a strong sense of community to more neighborhoods across the country.”
