Stoner’s Pizza Joint, a quick-service pizza franchise, says it has signed four new franchisees—two in Florida and two in Texas—as it continues a 10-year growth spurt.

The new franchisees look to open nine locations in the next 12 years, beginning in August 2024. In Texas, the targeted markets are Killeen, San Marco and San Antonio, while the Florida franchisees are eyeing locations in Bradenton, Fleming Island, Orange Park and Jacksonville Beach.

“We are getting interest from all over the country and look forward to adding new states and partners this year,” said CEO and owner John Stetson, who was featured on PMQ’s cover in April 2021.

Founded in 2013 by Jim and Angie Smith in Charleston, South Carolina, the first Stoner’s location opened in Savannah, Georgia, the following year. By 2020, it had expanded to Florida, North Carolina and Texas, with the clever motto, “Get Baked.”

Stetson came on board as a franchisee before rising to the role of CEO. “Co-investors in other business deals I’ve had made investments in Stoner’s Pizza Joint on the corporate side,” he told PMQ in 2021. “They started to educate me a little on the economics. I’d always been looking into being a franchisee of any magnitude. I looked at some of the bigger brands like Dunkin Donuts or Jimmy John’s. They have unbelievable brands, but the cost to get in is quite a bit.”

“[Stoner’s], to me, was fun,”Stetson added. “It was something new. Call it a millennial brand, but it doesn’t have to be [all] millennial. We’re just making it a little more fun. And I can use the cannabis movement a little bit in my marketing, but I don’t want people to think there’s CBD or THC in [the food].” 

Stoner’s Pizza Joint, a DELCO concept, launched its franchising program in 2018. It currently has 40 locations in six states. The company says it has 15 locations in near-term development and anticipates reaching 100 locations in the next 18 months.

Stoner’s Pizza Joint seeks qualified franchisees to help the brand grow nationwide in college town markets, with a focus on the Southeast region. Prospective franchisees should have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The ideal candidate is a proven, multi-unit operator in the restaurant industry and has a strong knowledge of their market. Stoner’s Pizza Joint’s Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) reveals an estimated initial investment range of $90,000 to $206,000 for the first location, including a franchise fee of $25,000.

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