Multi-Brand Operator on Pace to Open 100 Marco's Pizza locations by 2025

Kal Gullapalli is a multi-unit, multi-brand franchisee who operates 35 Marco’s Pizza locations and 44 European Wax Center locations. He’s set to open his 36th Marco’s location, which will mark the pizza chain’s 1,100th store, later this month in Florida. Gullapalli is excited about the new location but said it’s just a milestone on his way to 100 restaurants by 2025.

“With Marco’s, there’s a clear path to my team owning 100-plus locations,” said Gullapalli, who spent seven years on Wall Street before becoming an entrepreneur in 2016. “The brand has a superior product, a sophisticated development team, and vast whitespace across the country. This, paired with its record-breaking growth, made now an opportune time to double down on my investment.”

Gullapalli is a veteran small business operator who has owned restaurants and Orangetheory Fitness locations in the past. He joined the Marco’s Pizza brand in 2021 and began quickly building a portfolio.

Following the opening of his latest Marco’s Pizza location, Gullapalli will turn his attention back to seven more locations he has in various stages of development. He also has commitments for another 16 future stores across Tampa, Florida, Georgia, and Columbia and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.