Tampa Bay to get three new pizza joints

Stoner's Pizza Joint, a quick-service pizza franchise, says it has signed a multi-unit agreement that will bring three new stores to the Tampa market over the next two years.

The company says Scott Mobley, a franchisee and chief operating officer, who already operates three stores in Florida, "plans to aggressively build out the Tampa area."

Mobley says he signed a lease on North Dale Mabry Highway and expects to open this first of three Tampa-area stores in October.

"We've had our eye on the booming Tampa market for several years and are thrilled to have found our first location," says Mobley in a Wednesday news release. "We are aggressively looking to open additional locations throughout the Tampa metro market over the next two years. We want to make sure all of Tampa gets baked!"

John Stetson, CEO and owner of Stoner's Pizza Joint, says Tampa marks Mobley's fourth location in less than a year, "which is a testament to the brand's quality."

The brand has set an expansion goal of 100 units by the end of 2025 as it seeks new multi-unit operators throughout the United States, the company says.

Founded in 2013, Stoner's Pizza Joint launched its franchising program in late 2018 along with new branding. Stoner's Pizza Joint has stores in Florida, from Jacksonville through Daytona Beach to Fort Lauderdale. It has five locations in Georgia, three in South Carolina, and two in the Denver area.

Stoner's Pizza Joint says it is currently seeking qualified franchisees to help the brand grow nationwide in college-town markets, with a focus on the Southeast region. The ideal candidate is a proven multi-unit operator in the restaurant industry and has a strong knowledge of their market, the company says.