Brixx Wood Fired Pizza Opening New Franchise Restaurants

Brixx Wood Fired Pizza Opening New Franchise Restaurants

Charlotte-based Brixx Wood Fired Pizza is growing at a fast pace, bringing its signature woodburning ovens and craft-brewed beers to more cities in the Southeast.

After celebrating its first franchise opening last month in Columbia, South Carolina, Brixx announced plans to open five new restaurants in 2008 and 2009. Three more franchises and two company-owned restaurants are scheduled to open within the next year in North Carolina and Tennessee.

Brixx opened in Charlotte's Dilworth neighborhood in 1998 and has grown to 11 locations in the Carolinas. The company partnered with McAlister's Deli Co-founder Neil Newcomb in 2007 to create Brixx Franchise Systems, LLC. The venture opened the door for qualified business people to join the Brixx family and help the restaurant expand. The company expects to have at least 16 Brixx locations by the end of 2009.

Mike Muckler, a dentist from Denver, N.C., opened the first franchise in June at the Village at Sandhill in northeast Columbia.

Other planned Brixx franchises include a Wilmington location scheduled to open in October, and locations in Winston-Salem and Knoxville, Tenn., scheduled to open in 2009.

In addition to the franchises, Brixx plans to open two company-owned restaurants in Nashville,Tennessee, and Asheville. The average Brixx restaurant is 3,200 to 3,400 square feet and employs 40 to 50 people.

An environmentally friendly company, Brixx recycles all possible paper and glass products where available. Brixx Wood Fired Pizza is owned by New South Pizza Inc.