Founded in 1933, Patsy’s Pizzeria began as a small coal-oven slice shop in the Italian-Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Over the decades, it built a reputation for classic New-York-style thin-crust pizza baked in a coal-fired oven, becoming an icon of old-school pizzerias in the city.

Headquartered in New York, with the original site on First Avenue and East 117th Street, the brand is now operated and expanded under the ownership of the Brija family. They acquired the original location in 1991 and began franchising the concept in 1995. The franchise model allows investors to bring the Patsy’s legacy of coal-oven pizza and Italian-American dining to new markets while staying anchored in the heritage of the original store.

Patsy’s offers more than just pizza slices. The menu includes classic Italian-American dishes such as pasta, salads, calzones, and full-meal entrées, but the signature remains the coal-fired thin crust pizza cooked at very high heat for that distinctive char and crisp.

What differentiates the brand from competitors is its authentic coal-oven heritage, slice-by-slice service—a concept it helped pioneer—and its commitment to keeping the original look and feel of the East Harlem site in its franchised locations.

Training

Patsy’s Pizzeria provides a structured training program for its franchisees to ensure proper operation and adherence to brand standards. The training includes the following programs:

1. Initial Training Program: Before opening a location, Patsy’s Pizzeria offers an Initial Training Program at no tuition cost for up to three individuals—typically the franchisee, the Pizzeria Manager, and the Principal Pizzaman. Attendance and successful completion of this program are mandatory. The franchisor determines the program's timing, duration, and location, and participants are responsible for all associated living and travel expenses.
2. Additional or Replacement Personnel Training: If the franchisee needs to train additional or replacement staff, especially for Pizzeria Managers or Principal Pizzamen, a fee of up to $1,000 per person applies. This training is required before those individuals can assume their roles. The franchisee also bears all costs associated with participation, including travel, lodging, and meals.
3. On-Going Training: Patsy’s Pizzeria may periodically require attendance at additional training programs, conventions, or conferences. These may be conducted in person or via digital platforms such as web-based tutorials or video streaming. Franchisees must cover any related training fees and expenses for their staff.

Territory Protection

Patsy’s Pizzeria grants each franchisee a defined geographic Territory, typically outlined in the Franchise Agreement, such as five city blocks or a one-mile radius in suburban areas.

Within this Territory, the franchisor agrees not to establish another Patsy’s Pizzeria location under the same brand or permit another franchisee to do so. This provision is designed to provide franchisees some level of operational security within their assigned area.

However, Patsy’s Pizzeria does not grant exclusive territory rights. The franchisor retains the right to operate or authorize the operation of businesses under different trademarks, including competitive ones, even within a franchisee’s Territory.