Fazoli's

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]

In 1990, Kunihide Toyoda's Seed Restaurant Group purchased the chain, which at the time comprised five locations.[4] The chain expanded rapidly. By 1993, it had 62 restaurants within Kentucky, Indiana and Florida. By 1997, there were 300 Fazoli's across the country,[4] and a peak of 400 in 2004.

In October 2006, Sun Capital Partners purchased the business. Of 319 locations, in 32 states, 179 were franchised.[5] However, by 2008, Fazoli's sales and location count were falling.[6] A struggling franchisee in Arizona announced it was closing all 13 of its restaurants in the state.[7]

In July 2015, Sentinel Capital Partners acquired Fazoli's 124 company-owned and 89 franchised locations[8] but the sole remaining location in Southern Nevada closed in 2016.[9][10] The remaining 122 owned and operated restaurants were acquired in November 2022 by FAT Brands Inc., for $130 million.[11]

As of January 2025, Gregg Nettleton currently serves as the President of Fazoli's and President and Chief Operating Officer of FAT Brands’ Casual Dining Division.

On January 26, 2026, parent company FAT Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to shed billions of dollars in debt. The company listed assets and liabilities between $1 billion and $10 billion.[12]

Expansion into Canada

In April 2024, parent company FAT Brands announced that it would be kicking off its first international expansion, with it to open 25 new locations in Canada within the next 10 years. It was expected that they would open the first locations in Alberta.[13]

The first location in Canada officially opened on June 5, 2025, in the southeast quadrant of Calgary, Alberta in the neighborhood of Mahogany.[14]

Products

Fazoli's original menu options were pizza and pasta. From 1990, the emphasis shifted away from pizza towards pasta cooked al dente, and meals at a lower price point than competing hamburger restaurants. In the early 2000s, low-carbohydrate diets became popular and Fazoli's added low fat items with more vegetables and protein.[4]

As of 2016, Fazoli's menu includes baked pastas, sandwiches, salads, parmigiano, meatballs and pizza.[15] Some restaurants offer a catering menu for collection or delivery.[16]

See also

• List of Italian restaurants
• List of fast casual restaurants

External links

• Official website