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Lubbock business news includes GECU open, Mr Gatti's Pizza franchising - Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Mr Gatti's Pizza is looking for a franchisee to bring the chain back to Lubbock, four years after the local location shut down because of COVID-19. The pizza and arcade spot closed its Lubbock doors in 2021.
The pizza and arcade spot closed its Lubbock doors in 2021. Now the company says it wants to return with what it calls a modern family entertainment center concept, combining pizza and buffet under one roof. A new GECU credit union branch also opened in town this week, giving Lubbock residents another banking option.
For anyone who grew up eating pizza off a conveyor belt and feeding quarters into arcade games, the Mr Gatti's news will hit differently. The catch is that nothing is guaranteed yet. The company is still searching for the right franchisee, which means the return depends entirely on someone local deciding to sign on. No location, no timeline, and no signed deal have been confirmed.
The GECU opening moves faster on a concrete timeline since the branch is already open and serving members.
Mr Gatti's was a staple for Lubbock birthday parties and after-school hangs for decades before the pandemic forced the closure, and the chain is betting enough nostalgia remains in this market to attract a franchise partner willing to bet on it too.
Common questions
Is Mr Gatti's Pizza coming back to Lubbock?
- Not yet - the company wants to return but is still looking for a local franchisee to sign on. No location or opening date has been announced. The comeback depends entirely on someone in Lubbock deciding to open the franchise, so nothing is guaranteed.
Why did Mr Gatti's Pizza close in Lubbock?
- The Lubbock location shut down in 2021 due to COVID-19. The chain is now pitching a modern family entertainment center concept that combines pizza, buffet, and arcade games under one roof, which is a refresh of the format longtime Lubbock residents remember.
What is the new GECU branch in Lubbock?
- A new GECU credit union branch opened in Lubbock this week, giving residents another local banking option. GECU is a credit union serving the region, and the new branch expands its footprint for Lubbock members looking for in-person banking services.
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