Nozzleman Pizza is opening up shop in Walmart stores, becoming the latest eatery to establish a location inside the discount giant's retail properties.
Reno, Nevada-based Nozzleman rolled out its first Walmart pizzeria earlier this month at a store at 3770 Highway 395 in Carson City, Nevada. The company plans to open sites inside 17 Walmart locations overall across six states this year, with more growth expected ahead. Nozzleman is selling quick-serve restaurant franchises for its Walmart eateries.
Following the Carson City launch, additional northern Nevada Nozzleman locations are slated to open inside Gardnerville, Fallon and Reno Walmart stores by late summer. Further expansion is expected in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming and Utah, according to Nozzleman.
Nozzleman one of a number of outside operators to open up inside a Walmart, providing food or services for its shoppers. That includes another pizza chain, Mr. Gatti's Pizza, opening restaurants at some Walmart stores, as well as purveyors of poke bowls, hot dogs and hoagies. The Walmart Supercenter in Teterboro, New Jersey, even has a barber shop. Such operators are able to take advantage of the retail juggernaut's flow of visitors. Walmart, in turn, said it is offering amenities to its shoppers and generating revenue.
“We’re always looking for prospective tenants that can enhance our customers’ shopping experience," Walmart spokesman Mark Rickel said in an email to Costar News on Monday. "With close to [5,000] stores nationwide, our tenant space varies and includes both national and local chains.”
Jesse Corletto, a retired firefighter with 25 years of service, and his business partner Robert Powells co-founded Nozzleman Pizza in honor of first responders. Nicole “Snooki" Polizzi, who became a celebrity due to her stint on the reality TV show "Jersey Shore" and grew up in a firefighting family, is one of Nozzleman's investors, according to the company.
“Walmart is an iconic American brand with an unparalleled customer base,” Powells said in a statement. “We couldn’t dream of a better collaboration than with a company that shares our commitment to the communities we serve. The opening of our store in Carson City represents the first step in an ambitious growth strategy that blends quality food with our mission of supporting the first responders who serve our communities.”
Each Nozzleman location donates a portion of its proceeds to local fire stations. The company has also partnered with actor Jeremy Renner's RennerVation Foundation to support foster kids and at-risk youth. Corletto is a member of the foundation's board.
Nozzleman is pitching franchisees as it looks to expand, telling them they "have the potential to tap into high-foot-traffic stores with a very loyal customer base helping to ensure financial stability.”
In addition, Nozzleman said its franchisees will enjoy "very reasonable lease rates" and low startup costs because most future Walmart pizzeria locations already have existing restaurant improvements.