Epic Deal With Walmart Might Bring This Pizza To Missouri

Last Thursday, Mr. Gatti's Pizza announced a partnership with Walmart to bring Mr. Gatti's Pizza to 92 Walmart stores in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Kentucky. Twelve locations will open in Walmart Stores this year in North Texas and Southern Oklahoma, according to a press release from Mr. Gatti's. So, could Missouri see Mr. Gatti's at Walmart?

Mr. Gatti's Pizza is a pizza place and family entertainment center with an imposing presence in Texas and a healthy number of locations in Kentucky and Louisiana. Additionally, the pizza joint has a small presence in Tennessee, Oklahoma, Ohio, Indiana, and Alabama.

According to Mr. Gatti's franchise website, the pizza place and arcade predict that they will grow twice in size within three years. The company's secret sauce is pizza, plus games and parties. Additionally, the company prides itself on its selection of games, which include everything from skeeball and air hockey to laser tag and virtual reality experiences.

The company offers two franchise models: their family entertainment centers, which require 12,500 square feet, or a smaller version requiring 5,000 square feet. Their other franchise model is a delivery/carry-out model requiring only 1200 square feet. They note that some franchises use delivery / carry-out locations to supplement their family entertainment centers. To learn more about Mr. Gatti's concept, check out my article on the pizza joint targeting West Central Missouri for expansion last March.

This is where the light bulb goes off regarding Walmart, especially with the pizza joint opening units there.

Jim Phillips, CEO of Mr. Gatti's, explained why the pizza chain wanted to partner with the retail giant.

"We've been vocal for years now about our ambitious growth goals, and this partnership with Walmart enables us to accelerate our expansion into new areas while continuing to strengthen our presence in familiar communities, bolstering our legacy for long-term success, one slice at a time. We are proud to recognize that Mr Gatti's and Walmart share the same customers, so we believe this is a winning combination to better serve our communities."

According to Mr. Gatti's release, the new Walmart locations will offer counter service and seating so that customers can enjoy a variety of Mr. Gatti's menu items. Customers can also order on the app and pick up their food after shopping.

One thing that Mr. Gatti's prides itself on is its pizza, which is made with fresh dough. Reading through their franchise site, I'd guess they believe that's what sets them apart from places like Chuck E. Cheese, where the pizza isn't that great. That said, my one experience eating Mr. Gatti's when I lived in Texas was unremarkable. It wasn't a bad pizza, but it wasn't good enough to put it in my pizza rotation.

So, could we see Mr. Gatti's at Walmart in Missouri? It's possible. Missouri is one of the states Mr. Gatti's Pizza has targeted for expansion. They specifically list Jefferson City, Kansas City, St. Louis, St. Joseph, Cape Girardeau, Hannibal, Marshall, and Warrensburg as targets for Mr. Gatti's Pizza restaurants. That said, Mr. Gatti's Pizza currently has no locations in Missouri.

Regarding Mr. Gatti's Pizza in Missouri, the interesting question is: could putting Mr. Gatti's in Walmart stores around Missouri generate interest from entrepreneurs interested in opening one of the chain's family entertainment centers in the market?

I don't know the answer to that. If yes, I'd expect to see Mr. Gatti's Pizza in some Missouri Walmart stores in the next couple of years, based on the restaurant's ambitious expansion plans. If it's the other way around, where the larger family entertainment centers drive the takeout business, it might not happen.

One thing is certain: Mr. Gatti's desire to find a franchise for Marshall and Warrensburg is on the money. Folks in this part of West Central Missouri are always asking for businesses to open that cater to family activities. Mr. Gatti's combination of pizza, parties, and games might be what families look for on a Friday night or Saturday here.

Author's note: According to Mr. Gatti's website, four locations are still "coming soon" to Missouri. In March 2023, I wrote an article about Mr. Gatti's pizza, party, and arcade concept that identified stores coming to Columbia, Springfield, Joplin, and Branson. These locations are no longer listed explicitly on Mr. Gatti's website.