Pie Five Pizza chain coming to Lexington, Louisville

Pie Five Pizza, a fast-casual pizza chain, announced Tuesday that franchises have been awarded in the Lexington and Louisville markets.

Franchise owners Lonnie and Connie Young and Curt and Carrie Currell — who previously operated a dozen McAlister's Delis in Kentucky, Indiana and North Carolina — plan to open 10 of the new pizza restaurants, which allow customers to pick toppings and have an individualized pizza in five minutes for a flat fee.

They hope to open the first Pie Five Pizza by the first quarter of 2014. The city will be determined by the potential locations available, Lonnie Young said. He is scouting sites in both cities and around the state.

"I'm hoping we're going to be all over in just a few years. I am going to open stores in Lexington and in Louisville, but which one comes first depends on the market," Young said.

Pie Five Pizza Co. is a subsidiary of Pizza Inn Holdings Inc.

The Colony, Texas-based chain is built on growing demand for fresh dining options without the wait, according to the announcement.

"Fast-casual concepts are sweeping the nation, and it's becoming very clear that Pie Five is setting the standard in the pizza space," Young said in a news release. "They have a winning business model as well as an outstanding leadership team committed to the success of its franchisees. We couldn't be more excited about bringing Pie Five to Kentucky."

This story was originally published August 27, 2013 at 1:43 PM with the headline "Pie Five Pizza chain coming to Lexington, Louisville."