Pizza Patrón, the premier Latino pizza brand, has executed a development agreement with a group of Restaurant professionals to open a total of 25 units within the next 48 months.

Lee M. Cohn and Lalo Gonzales, both veteran restaurateurs, have formed Grupo Pizza De Arizona, LLC to develop the Pizza Patrón brand in the state of Arizona. Cohn, who sits on the Board of Directors for four restaurant chains, is a restaurant developer with 30 years of restaurant experience. His company, Triple L.C., evaluates restaurant concepts nationwide as due diligence for their clients who are looking to invest in profitable restaurant ventures; they have also developed many concepts. Although the partners have signed to develop 25 Pizza Patrón units, Cohn says that their goal is to eventually have 45 units around the state.

"I have developed and looked at so many restaurant concepts," said Cohn. "But, the first time I saw this - something hit me as being the right timing and the right vision. What excited me about Pizza Patrón was the untapped niche and the fact that I can be on the ground floor of developing this brand -- I expect it to become very big. Also, I would not be here if it were not for Antonio Swad's focus, intensity, and strong leadership."

When Cohn began looking for a partner to help him roll out the Pizza Patrón brand in Arizona, he was astonished to find and be reintroduced to Lalo Gonzales, someone who had worked in one of his restaurants years ago. Gonzales has since owned Mexican restaurants, a catering company, and a restaurant consulting business.

"I couldn't have been luckier to find Lalo," said Cohn. "In addition to his restaurant experience, he does a lot of charity and political work and, over the years, has become a pillar in our Hispanic communities."

Gonzalez says that as the market manager for Arizona, he will focus on opening units in Phoenix first. "We plan to have one open before the end of the year and six more by year end 2004," said Gonzales.

Pizza Patrón was founded by Antonio Swad in 1986. Since they began Franchising the concept in March of this year, the brand has gone from four locations to 70, either open or under development.

"We have been meeting with established restaurant operators from all parts of the country," said Swad. "I can't tell you how happy we are to have Cohn and Gonzalez on board. The experience and dynamics of that team are powerful and exactly what is needed to establish the brand in the entire state of Arizona."

Pizza Patrón features festive and fun carryout-only pizza stores that are community based in Spanish speaking or predominately Hispanic neighborhoods. The units are open from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 4:00 to midnight on Fridays, 12:00 p.m. to midnight Saturdays, and 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sundays. The menu is value oriented, offering high quality, freshly prepared pizzas at very low price points. All pizza dough is made fresh throughout the evening; no preservatives are added or needed. The sauce is prepared fresh in the stores, as well, from crushed Roma tomatoes. Only 100% mzzarella is used. Whole and half pizzas are offered at prices as low as $4.99 for a large pizza with cheese and one topping and $3.49 for the same half pizza. A large deluxe pizza with everything is only $6.99.

Franchise News Release: Phoenix, AZ - (Oct-16-2003)