The pizzeria that’s anchored Bell Tower Shops since late 2010 has new owners, and they’re not stopping at one restaurant. UNIV Hospitality of Fort Myers, LLC has bought Grimaldi’s Pizzeria at Bell Tower, and the local firm already has a plan to bring five more of the coal-fired pizza chain’s restaurants to Southwest Florida.
UNIV Hospitality, led by Gary Patel and Anil Harkhani, recently purchased the Fort Myers restaurant, according to bradenton.com. The Bell Tower location has been a fixture in the area since late 2010 and, notably, it’s currently the only Grimaldi’s in Southwest Florida and just one of four in the entire state, per the same report. Under the new ownership, the restaurant will keep operating under the Grimaldi’s Pizzeria name as part of the UNIV Hospitality portfolio, according to fsrmagazine.com.
Five More Restaurants Planned Across Three Counties
The Bell Tower sale is just the opening move. UNIV Hospitality has signed a franchise development agreement to eventually open five additional Grimaldi’s locations, the bradenton.com report notes. Those future restaurants are expected to be spread across Sarasota, Lee and Collier counties, according to fsrmagazine.com’s account of the deal.
No addresses, opening dates or construction timelines have been made public for any of the planned locations. The expansion marks a notable moment for the brand’s franchise footprint nationally — Southwest Florida is the third domestic franchise territory for Grimaldi’s, joining Alabama and Iowa, fsrmagazine.com reports. Trade outlet pizzamarketplace.com likewise describes the deal as Grimaldi’s expanding its Southwest Florida presence through the franchise agreement with UNIV Hospitality.
A Familiar Pie, Now Under New Ownership
UNIV Hospitality says it intends to keep the formula that’s made the Bell Tower location a draw for well over a decade. The company plans to bring the same family-friendly, casual yet upscale atmosphere and award-winning pizzas to more Southwest Florida communities, per bradenton.com…