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Pizzerias

The Pizza Chain That's Struggling After Rivals Copied Its Business Model By Alexa Valme Oct. 22, 2025 2:39 pm EST

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When Pie Five Pizza arrived on the scene in 2011, it looked like the future of fast-casual dining. The Texas-based chain promised handcrafted pies made from fresh dough, real block mozzarella, and garden-cut toppings — all fired in a sleek oven that delivered dinner in under five minutes. For a while, the formula worked. Lines moved fast, franchise deals piled up, and Pie Five quickly expanded to 100 locations across the U.S., pitching itself as one of the best pizzas in the country for people who didn't have time to wait.

But the speed that once fueled its rise also set the stage for its downfall. Pie Five's c

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