Yahoo Finance Popular Midwestern thin-crust pizza franchise returns to the Charlotte area
Cody Weaver loves Donatos Pizza, and he’s hoping the Charlotte area will, too.
The 33-year-old Dublin, Ohio, native grew up less than 20 minutes from where the popular pizza franchise was born in 1963 in Columbus.
Now, Weaver lives in Fort Mill and is opening his own Donatos Pizza location along Gold Hill Road. You can get a taste Tuesday, July 2, when its soft opening begins. The grand opening is scheduled for July 9.
“I grew up on Donatos Pizza,” Weaver said. “Thin and crispy, edge-to-edge toppings — there are all of these trademarks that they’re known for.”
It’s a dash of nostalgia that he’s happy to share in his new environment.
“I still have the number (to my local Donatos Pizza memorized) because when I was a kid, we didn’t have cell phones. 614-659-0797 is the Donatos Pizza in Dublin. My parents would go on a date night or go out with friends, and when I was fending for myself, they put $20 in an envelope, and I would order it.”
Weaver attended The Citadel after high school and fell in love with the Carolinas. He moved to the Charlotte area in 2013, settling in Fort Mill in 2020.
Weaver currently works as a vice president of Dolce Vita, a footwear brand under the Steve Madden conglomerate. However, it’s been his dream to bring Donatos Pizza to the area since he moved here, even if things didn’t work out at first. He first tried to open a franchise in 2017, but didn’t meet the financial requirements.
“I was kind of hoping and praying for a long time that no one would buy the market. Once I hit the requirements to get approved for a franchise, I moved on it quick, and we wanted to start in York County.”
This is not the first Donatos Pizza to ever be in the area. There used to be multiple Donatos Pizza locations between Rock Hill and Charlotte, Donatos Pizza brand marketing project manager Emily Christopher said. The final York County location closed in 2013, and the final Charlotte location closed in 2019.
Christopher said that Weaver now plans to expand Donatos Pizza further into York County, looking at expanding into Rock Hill and one additional location. The company will still be looking at surrounding counties for additional locations, including a potential return to Charlotte.
About Donatos Pizza
The calling card of Donatos Pizza is its thin-crust, edge-to-edge pizza style.
The restaurant offers a host of signature pizzas and a create-your-own option. The pizzas are also available hand-tossed. The menu also features subs, calzones, wings, salads, appetizers and desserts.
The store will be available for dine-in, carry out and delivery.
Donatos Pizza
Address: 1034 Gold Hill Rd., Fort Mill, SC, 29708
Cuisine: Pizza, subs, salads
Instagram: @donatosfortmill
