Eric Wortham’s “world” is getting bigger. The founder of Pizza World pizzerias has recently bought back a franchisee’s restaurant in Collinsville and has plans to add more beyond the metro-east. He recently talked to business reporter Will Buss about it:
Q: Why did you buy back the Collinsville restaurant?
A: “I opened that about eight or nine years ago. It was very successful and as my company grew and we expanded with franchises across the country, it became too much to handle three corporate stores, franchising, training and marketing. I then talked about running the company with franchisees. A gentleman we hired took it over and ran that store for quite a few years and just within the last year or so, I guess, the economy hurt him a little bit and he had some personal problems and things were not going well for him. So we said that we thought we would step in and buy it back.”Q: When did you get started?
A: “I founded Pizza World 18 years ago in Maplewood (Mo.).”Q: How many locations do you have?
A: “We have 15 locations and have 10 under contract to open.”Q: Where are you growing? Read on…