Can the Antioch Pizza Shop Franchisor disapprove of a proposed site?
Antioch_Pizza_Shop Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
over the entity that owns each
MUDA 2025 - 3 -
Antioch Pizza Shop Restaurant franchise developed hereunder. You may develop and open any Antioch Pizza Shop Restaurant earlier than the date set forth in the Development Schedule as long as you do so in compliance with this Agreement and the applicable Franchise Agreement.
- 3.2 You must develop each Antioch Pizza Shop Restaurant in the following manner:
- (a) By giving us written notice of your intention to begin development of the next Antioch Pizza Shop Restaurant at least thirty (30) days before the execution of the Franchise Agreement for the applicable restaurant;
- (b) By submitting to us a description of the proposed site, together with a letter of intent in a form approved by us or other evidence satisfactory to us which confirms your favorable prospects for obtaining the proposed site;
- (c) By executing the then-current form of the Franchise Agreement for the applicable restaurant at the approved site and complying with its terms. We acknowledge that the franchisee for each Franchise Agreement may be a separate entity owned by your Owners.
- (d) By executing a lease, in a form approved by us, or purchase agreement for the proposed site; and
- (e) By meeting all of the requirements for developing and opening the Antioch Pizza Shop Restaurant under the terms of the applicable Franchise Agreement.
- 3.3 We will be obligated to execute the Franchise Agreement only if (i) you continue to maintain the requisite knowledge, experience, skills, and financial resources to perform as a franchisee, (ii) you are in compliance with this Agreement, including but not limited to compliance with the Development Schedule and in compliance with the in-term covenants set forth in Paragraph 6.4, (iii) you (and/or an affiliate) are in compliance any and all existing Franchise Agreements between us.
- 3.4 Subject to our prior written approval, you may develop and open more Antioch Pizza Shop Restaurants in the Development Area than you are required to develop under the Development Schedule.
Source: Item 22 — Contracts (FDD pages 56–57)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Antioch Pizza Shop's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee is developing a traditional restaurant, the franchisor has the right to approve or disapprove a proposed site. Specifically, before executing a Franchise Agreement for a new restaurant, the franchisee must submit a description of the proposed site and a letter of intent (or other satisfactory evidence) to the franchisor. The franchisee must also execute a lease or purchase agreement for the proposed site, in a form approved by Antioch Pizza Shop.
This approval process is a standard practice in franchising, allowing Antioch Pizza Shop to maintain brand consistency and ensure that new locations have the potential to succeed. The franchisor's approval is contingent on the franchisee maintaining the necessary knowledge, experience, skills, and financial resources, as well as compliance with the Development Agreement and existing Franchise Agreements.
However, the FDD also indicates that for Food Truck/Trailer franchises, Antioch Pizza Shop does not approve the location of the Business Office. The franchisee is solely responsible for selecting the site of the Business Office and must notify the franchisor of its address and phone number. This distinction highlights that the site approval process varies depending on the type of franchise (traditional restaurant vs. food truck/trailer) being developed.