Fazoli's System Management, LLC., or Fazoli's, is an American fast casual restaurant chain headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. It was founded in 1988 and is now owned by FAT Brands. As of August 2025, there are 192 Fazoli's locations nationwide specializing in Italian-American cuisine.
History
Fazoli's was established as a sister brand of Jerrico, then the parent company of Long John Silver's. The first location opened at 1951 North Broadway in Lexington, Kentucky, in September 1988, under the name Gratzi's. Jerrico executives chose to create Gratzi's as a more "casual" chain of Italian cuisine restaurants, following their previous failed attempts with a more upscale Italian chain called Florenz earlier in the decade.[2] The name "Gratzi's" was derived from the Italian word grazie, meaning "thank you". However, research conducted by Jerrico determined that consumers considered the name too similar in sound to that of hockey player Wayne Gretzky and came up with the name "Fazoli's" in early 1989. The name has no particular meaning, and was chosen because it contained the same number of letters and would fit within the existing logo. The second restaurant overall, and first to open under the Fazoli's name, opened in Richmond, Kentucky, in early 1989.[3]