Westshore Pizza To Offer Franchise Opportunities

By JEFF HOUCK | The Tampa Tribune
Published: March 25, 2009

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TAMPA --

Bob Vasturo, founder of Westshore Pizza & Cheesesteaks, announced plans Wednesday to begin regional franchising of the Tampa-based restaurants.

Vasturo is working with business development consultant Gary Hoyle and former Wendy's franchise sales vice president Graydon D. Webb to expand the 15-year-old restaurant chain beyond its current 40 restaurants in the Tampa Bay area.

The group is pitching the $200,000-per-store franchises as an affordable option for 401k investors to rebuild their fortunes, compared to the $750,000 to $1 million minimum investments necessary to buy into nationally established franchises. The goal is to expand by between six and 10 new units within the next year, Hoyle said.

"I had a lot of people approaching me who lost their 401Ks or lost their jobs looking to go into business for themselves," Vasturo said Wednesday.

"I think our pizza parlor is really different," he said. "We think opening up could put a hurting on the big boys like Pizza Hut."