The Pizza Press Marks Fifth Anniversary With Plans for Nearly 150 New Stores & International Expansion by End of 2018

New Flagship Pizzeria in Anaheim, California to be Among 30 Openings This Year

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Mar 22, 2017, 13:00 ET

ANAHEIM, Calif., March 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As The Pizza Press approaches its fifth anniversary in June, Orange County, California's fastest growing build-your-own pizzeria has announced it will expand to nearly 150 restaurants in the U.S., Mexico and China by the end of 2018, with 300 of the casual pizzerias planned over the next three years.

The jump in growth for The Pizza Press is beginning with 30 new locations opening this year, including the company's first out of state restaurant in Austin, Texas, and a new flagship opening in Anaheim, California on March 30.

The Pizza Press, based in Southern California, is celebrating its fifth anniversary with plans to open 300 stores over the next three years.

The Pizza Press, known for its high quality ingredients, wide array of local craft beer, and 1920s newspaper theme, has signed multiple franchise agreements to open units in Texas, Nevada and North Carolina, as well as China and Mexico by the end of next year. The company is actively looking to expand into Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Canada.

The Anaheim, California pizzeria is relocating to a larger space in the mid-century modern Anaheim Plaza Hotel & Suites, which is currently being renovated. The new restaurant, which is a block away from the existing Pizza Press on Harbor Boulevard across from Disneyland Resort, is 2,700 square feet, nearly twice the size of the existing Anaheim location.

In addition to more seating and a larger kitchen, the new Anaheim restaurant will have a spacious patio, ample parking, and 30 taps of rotating local craft beer. Most Pizza Press locations have 20 local craft beers on tap.

The Pizza Press recently opened two more Southern California locations, in Rancho Santa Margarita and expanded into San Diego County with a Carlsbad location. Additional California locations opening this year include Downtown Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Tustin, Newport Beach, Long Beach, Santa Monica, San Jose, Northridge and others.

"The Pizza Press is a proven concept that is simple, fresh and fun," said Dara Maleki, president and CEO of the Anaheim, California-based company. "We're excited about the company's growth and know that our pizzeria franchises will be welcomed in markets throughout the United States as well as other countries. We only use high quality ingredients, a great assortment of toppings, and our selection of craft beer among build-your-own pizzerias is unmatched."

In keeping with the newspaper theme, customers at The Pizza Press are invited to "publish" their own pizza by choosing from an extensive selection of fresh, high quality toppings, cheese and sauces. In addition to creating a custom pizza which is "hot off the press" in under four minutes, customers can choose from signature pizzas including The Times (extra virgin olive oil, mozzarella, chicken, grape tomato, red onion, smoked gouda, and finished with fresh cilantro and Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce), The Tribune (red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, red onion, mushroom, roasted red bell peppers, sweet Italian link sausage, Kalamata olives and ricotta),The Chronicle (extra virgin olive oil, mozzarella, imported artichoke hearts, grape tomato, red onion, crimini mushroom, chevre, roasted red bell peppers, and finished with fresh basil and basil pesto), and others.

Custom pizzas may grab the headlines at The Pizza Press, but diners can also enjoy a selection of custom or grab-and-go salads and tempting desserts such as custom ice cream sandwiches, ice cream floats, tiramisu and other seasonal treats. In addition to its carefully curated assortment of local craft beer, The Pizza Press also serves Stumptown Cold Brew Coffee and Virgil's cream soda and root beer.

About The Pizza Press

Founded in 2012, The Pizza Press is a build-your-own pizzeria with a friendly atmosphere and fun 1920s newspaper theme. "Newsboys" help guests "publish" their own custom pizza or one of the signature pizzas named after major newspapers such as "The Times," "The Tribune", "The Chronicle" and others. The pizzas are "hot off the press" in under four minutes.

Based in Anaheim, California, the rapidly growing franchise has nine locations in Southern California, with 30 stores opening later this year, and 100 slated to open in 2018, with 300 planned over the next three years. The Pizza Press is expanding its franchise program outside of California with locations in Nevada, Texas and North Carolina. Restaurants in China and Mexico will follow in 2018. For more information about The Pizza Press, please call 844-44-PRESS or visit www.ThePizzaPress.com.

By the Numbers:

5 -- Years since The Pizza Press "published" its first pizza in Anaheim. The first location opened in Anaheim in 2012.
9 -- Current locations (Anaheim, Carlsbad, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, North Hollywood, Orange, Pasadena Rancho Santa Margarita and West Hollywood)
More than 1 million -- Custom pizzas served in the past five years
20 - 30 -- Taps of local craft beer at each location
More than 100,000 -- Cookies sold over the past five years
30 -- New restaurants opening in 2017
10 - 15 -- New restaurants opening in Southern California in the next 18 months, including at least seven in Orange County
100 -- New restaurants opening by the end of 2018
300 -- New restaurants opening over the next three years