ORLANDO, Fla. — Marco’s Pizza has opened a new operations and training center in downtown Orlando, giving the Ohio-based chain a second major base and putting about 50 of its corporate employees in the city.
Company leaders cut the ribbon Thursday alongside Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Tim Giuliani, who heads the Orlando Economic Partnership. The mayor took part in a ceremonial first slice, stretching dough and topping a pizza himself before guests sampled the food.
The site covers roughly 14,030 square feet and mixes corporate offices with a full training kitchen built to match the layout of a working Marco’s store. Franchise owners will use it for hands-on practice, and the space will host the chain’s advanced franchisee courses and its Discovery Days for people thinking about buying a franchise.
The company says the Orlando hub extends its Toledo, Ohio, headquarters rather than replacing it. Marco’s works largely as a remote company, but many of its staff live in the Ohio and Florida markets, and Florida ranks among its biggest states for stores.
President and co-CEO Tony Libardi said strong operators are what build strong brands, and that the investment will help keep quality consistent as the chain grows. The center’s goal, according to Chief Operating Officer John Meyers, is teaching team members to make good decisions on the spot.
Marco’s was founded in Toledo in 1978. Today the chain counts more than 1,200 stores across 35 states, plus restaurants in Mexico, the Bahamas and Puerto Rico, and it is aiming for more than 80 new openings this year.
For downtown Orlando, the center adds a steady corporate presence and regular traffic from franchise owners who travel in for training sessions throughout the year.
Section: More Orlando FL business news
Orlando business profiles
Filed under: Orlando FL Business News
