:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59187957/Pepe-9.0.0.jpg)
New Haven, Connecticut has long been a hotbed of nationally recognized pizza. With old stalwarts like Sally’s Apizza and Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, as well as some newer players in the game, the college town is a true destination for pizza lovers.
In recent years, Frank Pepe has been on the move, bringing its acclaimed pizza to nine locations across Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts, with a new one on the way to Warwick, Rhode Island. With its expansion in full gear, now it’s also planning to add a second location in Massachusetts, per Boston Restaurant Talk.
The restaurant’s management submitted an application to operate within the former Uno’s space at the Burlington Mall. This will be a large location for Pepe’s, which opened with fanfare in Chestnut Hill in December of 2015. Burlington’s restaurant would span nearly 4,000 square feet, seating close to 100 people. Frank Pepe will join the recently opened Blaze Pizza in slinging pies in the area. (Blaze is a fast-casual chain where customers order Chipotle-style, whereas Pepe’s is a full-service restaurant.)
Frank Pepe has been going strong since its founding in 1925, and this expansion comes ahead of planned growth from its fellow New Haven institution and rival, Sally’s Apizza, which only has one location — but not for long. Sally’s recently came under new ownership — Lineage Hospitality acquired the restaurant from Bobby and Ricky Consiglio, the sons of founder Sal Consiglio — and the company has grand plans to expand the restaurant nationally. (No word yet on whether Boston will get a location, but stay tuned.)
Update 3/28, 2 p.m.: Frank Pepe provided the following statement on its expansion plans:
As long planned, Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana has desired to expand its presence in and around the Boston area and Burlington is one of the potential locations that we are currently exploring as part of our continued expansion. We look forward to sharing updates with fans of Pepe’s pizza as soon as additional details are confirmed.
