By Julie Wernau | A new pizza chain is coming to town and plans to add 30 locations in Chicago by 2012. Toppers Pizza, a 26-unit pizza franchise with 20 locations in Wisconsin caters to the college crowd with pies such as the “Hangover Helper,” “Mac ‘N Cheese” and a pizza called the “Potato Topper” that tastes like a loaded potato, according to the company. To celebrate the grand opening of each new location, Toppers gives away free food for a year to the first 50 customers.
The chain was founded in 1991 by former Dominos executive Scott Gittrich. The company said the average cost open a Toppers is $400,000 and franchisees must have a minimum liquidity of $150,000 and net worth of $300,000 to start a Toppers restaurant.
The company said Chicago will be used as a “hub” for further expansion
in Illinois and plans to reach 100 units total by the end of 2012.
Toppers has a restaurant in DeKalb. Last time I checked it was in Illinois not Wisconsin. BTW, nobody I know goes there so don’t get excited.
Doesn’t sound too appetizing to me.
If Toppers can survive in the market, good for them, but the odds are against them. The Chicago pizza market is already over-saturated, no pun intended. We have the luxury of many great and many not-so-great local thin, deep dish and stuffed chains. That’s why national chains like Domino’s, Pizza Hut and Little Crasar’s have remarkably small footprints in Chicago and even its burbs.
Wow those pizzas sound really gross.
This just in…Toppers to open 100 chains by 2012 and will close 100 chains in 2013. Good luck trying to survive here. I would rather go to Gino’s or Malnatis.
Toppers was always the best place to go for pizza in Wisconsin. I am PUMPED to see it entering Chicago. I WILL BE THERE EVERY NIGHT.
Topper’s in Whitewater, WI does a booming biz ~~ beats Gus’s
The crown jewel of Toppers is their Topper Stix. They’re cheese sticks that come with dipping sauces. The pizzas are ok and not anything special… but those Topper Stix are cheap and quick and fill a niche not readily filled in the Chicago market. Come to Highwood!!
Topper’s cheese sticks are the best. You Chicago people don’t know that Wisconsin chains use the best cheese. I know from surviving off pizza in the rough streets of Beloit. Topper’s knows how to stay two steps ahead.
Anything is better than Eduardo’s, especially the one on S. Dearborn with all of Ben’s little family members scurrying around inside!!!
Does Toppers serve lasagna?
This place doesn’t stand a chance in the Windy City. There are so many quality places. There just isn’t room for another mediocre chain restaurant. They clearly didn’t do their marketing research before trying to tap this market.
Toppers pizza will be a huge disappointment. Cubs will win the world series before this chain makes it. Weak. I make better pizza’s when Im blacked out and I burn them everytime!!
I had the pleasure of enjoying food from Toppers while I lived in Madison, WI… trust me, people, the food is REALLY good.. their breadsticks are the BEST… how long must I wait for this!?? PLEASE COME TO CHICAGO ASAP!!