Currito Celebrates Grand Opening of First Delaware Location

August 06, 2026 // Franchising.com // CINCINNATI – Currito is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its newest restaurant in Newark. The restaurant opens its doors on Monday, August 10, marking Currito's debut in the state of Delaware and the first restaurant for franchisee Piyush Patel. To celebrate, there will be a series of VIP parties for members of the community to attend from August 6-8. On August 10, the first 50 guests that come through the door will get free Currito for a year (one weekly meal in the app for 365 days).

Patel's introduction to Currito came through personal connections: he is friends with another Currito franchisee with several locations in Ohio and Kentucky. After visiting those restaurants, Patel became familiar with the brand. The Delaware location marks Patel's first Currito in the state.

An Experienced Operator Brings Currito to Newark

Business runs in Patel's family, and he brings established multi-unit franchise experience to his first Currito restaurant, having previously owned and operated Tropical Smoothie Cafe and Dunkin' locations. A Newark-area local himself, Patel is looking forward to serving his own community and plans to hire between 15 and 20 full- and part-time employees for the new restaurant.

“I fell in love with Currito the first time I tried it, and once I saw there’t a single location in Delaware, I knew it was an opportunity worth taking,” said Patel. “The brand has a cleaner, more high-end feel than other bowl concepts, and the food is genuinely healthier, something you can eat any day of the week. Bringing that to Newark, and eventually to three more communities across the area, is something I’m really proud of.”

During the opening period, the first 50 customers to visit will each win a free bowl every week for a year. Patel will also host community celebrations at the restaurant on the opening days, inviting Newark neighbors to try the menu and meet the team.

Currito Expands Footprint with First Delaware Restaurant
“Piyush represents exactly what we look for in a Currito franchisee: someone who genuinely loves the food and understands what it takes to run a great restaurant,” said John Lanni, co-founder of Currito. “His background as a multi-unit operator, paired with his passion for the brand and his own community, made him the perfect partner to introduce Currito to Delaware. We can’t wait for Newark to discover what makes Currito special.”

Founded in 2005 by brothers Joe and John Lanni, Currito was created to bring fresh, globally inspired meals to the fast-casual space. Using nutritious, locally sourced ingredients, the brand appeals to consumers seeking delicious, healthy options. With a deep-rooted food industry background, the Lanni brothers drew inspiration from their father, Nick Lanni, who founded and grew the Great Steak and Potato Company to over 250 locations. They have since built the Thunderdome Restaurant Group, which includes several successful concepts alongside Currito.

SOURCE Currito 

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