D.P. Dough is a fast-casual franchise brand specializing in calzones and late-night delivery, deliberately positioning itself as “the pizza alternative.” The concept began in 1983 when Penny Haley started selling calzones from a food truck in Springfield, Massachusetts. The first permanent D.P. Dough location opened in 1987 in Amherst, Massachusetts, founded by Dan and Penny Haley — the initials behind the brand’s name.
Today, D.P. Dough is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, under Calzone King, LLC. The brand began franchising in 1996 and has since expanded across numerous college towns throughout the United States.
Its growth strategy focuses on serving the late-night college crowd, offering delivery and carryout options that cater to students and young adults looking for a quick, satisfying meal.
D.P. Dough’s menu features around 20 signature calzones, along with the option to build your own. It also offers wings, tater tots, breadsticks, and dessert calzones. Unlike most pizza chains, D.P. Dough stands out by not serving pizza at all. This focus on calzones gives the brand a unique niche in the competitive fast-casual market.
Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
The D.P. Dough franchise provides a structured training program designed to prepare franchisees for all aspects of running a calzone restaurant.
D.P. Dough grants franchisees a protected territory defined in the Franchise Agreement. Within this area, the franchisor will not open or authorize another D.P. Dough restaurant. The size and boundaries depend on local population and market factors.
The protection does not include non-traditional sales like online or catering operations. This ensures franchisees have local exclusivity while allowing the brand to expand through broader channels.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
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