Grimaldi’s Pizzeria is expanding throughout Houston, with its fourth and fifth locations already lined up and more in the works. It leased a 3,500 SF space in CityCentre slated to open late this summer and has a site planned in Baybrook Mall. Grimaldi’s, which features coal-fired brick oven New York-style pizza, has existing stores in The Woodlands, First Colony and Cinco Ranch. CEO Joey Ciolli says Houston has always been a great market for the brand, and it plans to continue to expand.

Grimaldi’s is targeting ground-floor inline or end cap spaces. The average store is 4k SF with 180 seats and a 400 SF to 600 SF patio. It features a prominent interior/exterior bar and looks for strong communities underserved in pizza. The hand-designed and hand-built coal-fired oven weighs 25 tons and uses 100 pounds of coal a day to maintain 1,200-degree temps. Grimaldi’s is also passionate about the water it uses (it’s said to be the secret to true New York-style pizza): the chain hires a chemist to analyze and re-create the mineral content and exact composition of the water to ensure the dough tastes the same in Texas as it does in Brooklyn.