The fast-casual pizza restaurant Uncle Maddio’s will open the doors to its first Lexington location, at 630 Euclid Avenue, on Friday, February 26, with a weekend of special promotions and giveaways planned to celebrate the event.
The new restaurant, which will serve up pizzas, salads and folded sandwiches, offers a create-your-own style of service similar to Subway or Chipotle. The New York-style thin crust pizzas can be made with any of three crust types, including a gluten free option, with 48 toppings and six sauces for guests to choose from. The restaurant will also offer a selection of craft beers and wine.
The franchise is being launched locally by brothers Todd, Matt and Robb Sackett and business partner Billy White, the same team of franchise owners who operate Lexington’s 11 Jimmy John’s sandwich shops.
“We decided to expand because we felt like we really loved Lexington, Kentucky,” said Billy White, partner and marketing manager for Uncle Maddio’s. “We’ve had a great run here for years with Jimmy John’s, and the fast-casual pizza market is about to explode.”
Uncle Maddio’s will start its opening weekend with a free pizza offer, available through Facebook, that will be redeemable on Friday. On Saturday, the location will serve up free pizza for all guests in line from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and children will eat free on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with purchase of an adult entree.
With seating for 100 and garage-style doors that will open to an outdoor patio in warm weather, the dining experience at the new restaurant will be a bit of a change for the sandwich shop owners, but the Uncle Maddio’s concept, with its reliance on fresh ingredients and fast service, was a good fit for the Jimmy John’s veterans, White said. Preparation and cooking time for Uncle Maddio’s pizzas is estimated at six minutes.
The owners have plans to eventually expand the concept to two additional locations in the Lexington area, White said.
“It’s important to have a good footprint in the community,” White said.
First launched in 2008, Atlanta-based Uncle Maddio’s currently operates 45 locations in 14 states, with more than 250 units currently in development. Check out the local location’s Facebook page at facebook.com/UncleMaddiosLexington.