Villa Enterprises
Encyclopedia
Villa Enterprises Management is a privately owned, multi-concept quick service restaurant (QSR) franchisor with over 300 franchised and corporate locations in 38 US states and 6 countries. The company was founded in 1964 by Michele Scotto as a pizzeria called Villa Pizza that was located next to the original Ed Sullivan Theater
on Broadway
in New York City
.
, George & Martha’s American Grille and Café Villa in Morristown, and Il Forno in Warren.
Villa Enterprises recently opened a test kitchen
at its Morristown, NJ
, corporate headquarters for
menu research and development.
. The success of that store has since led to expansion to over 300 locations. The company is currently run by founder Michele Scotto's two sons; Anthony Scotto serves as CEO, and Biagio Scotto is President.
Villa's menus support the culinary philosophy of founder Michele Scotto, who emigrated to the United States from Naples, Italy
. Scotto believed that food should always be prepared by hand on the premises–not frozen or pre-processed–and feature only fresh produce, sauces and meats.
In 2004, Villa Enterprises opened a flagship ‘Villa Café’ location at Times Square
in New York City, and in 2006 a new international headquarters in Morristown, NJ.
Entrepreneur Magazine
named Villa Enterprises one of the top 500 Best Franchises of 2008.
In late December 2008, Villa Enterprises announced it acquired six Luciano Brickoven Pizzeria locations from the Luciano Group, and Villa plans to convert them to Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen restaurants in early 2009.
Green Leaf's features tossed salads, made-to-order wraps, grilled panini sandwiches and home made soups.
Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt features frozen fruit Smoothies, fruit Frosties, frozen yogurt
sundaes and milkshakes, healthy snacks and hand-rolled pretzels.
South Philly Steak’s and Fries features classic Philly cheese steak
sandwiches and fresh-cut fries, chicken cheese steaks, deli subs, Philly-style baked potatoes, and South Philly
salads.
centers, casinos, regional malls, travel plazas, transport hubs and universities.
Internationally, Villa Enterprises currently operates 22 locations in Italy, the United Kingdom
, Kuwait, the Czech Republic
and Mexico. Villa began franchising operations in the U.S. and abroad in 1999.
Ed Sullivan Theater
The Ed Sullivan Theater, located at 1697-1699 Broadway between West 53rd and West 54th, in Manhattan, is a venerable radio and television studio in New York City...
on Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Description
Villa Enterprises has five fast-casual restaurant brands; Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen (authentic Italian cuisine), Green Leaf's (salad concept), Banana's (smoothie concept), Casa Java (coffee concept), and South Philly Steak & Fries (sandwich concept). Since 2005, the company has also wholly owned and operated several upscale full service restaurants in Northern New Jersey: The Black Horse Inn & Pub and MacKenzie’s in Mendham, NJMendham, New Jersey
Mendham is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 Census, the borough population was 5,097.While New Jersey was an English colony, Mendham Township was formed on March 29, 1749 as a new governmental entity, from portions of Hanover Township, Morris Township,...
, George & Martha’s American Grille and Café Villa in Morristown, and Il Forno in Warren.
Villa Enterprises recently opened a test kitchen
Test kitchen
A test kitchen is a kitchen used for the process of developing new kinds of food. On the largest scale, they are run by the research and development departments of large companies in the food industry...
at its Morristown, NJ
Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
, corporate headquarters for
menu research and development.
History
Villa Enterprises began in 1964 when Michele Scotto opened his first ‘Villa Pizza’ shop next to the original Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The success of that store has since led to expansion to over 300 locations. The company is currently run by founder Michele Scotto's two sons; Anthony Scotto serves as CEO, and Biagio Scotto is President.
Villa's menus support the culinary philosophy of founder Michele Scotto, who emigrated to the United States from Naples, Italy
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. Scotto believed that food should always be prepared by hand on the premises–not frozen or pre-processed–and feature only fresh produce, sauces and meats.
In 2004, Villa Enterprises opened a flagship ‘Villa Café’ location at Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
in New York City, and in 2006 a new international headquarters in Morristown, NJ.
Entrepreneur Magazine
Entrepreneur Magazine
Entrepreneur is a publication that carries news stories about entrepreneurialism, small business management, and business opportunities. It is published by Entrepreneur Media Inc., headquartered in Irvine, California....
named Villa Enterprises one of the top 500 Best Franchises of 2008.
In late December 2008, Villa Enterprises announced it acquired six Luciano Brickoven Pizzeria locations from the Luciano Group, and Villa plans to convert them to Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen restaurants in early 2009.
Brands
Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen features Italian entrees, old-world style pizza, homemade pastas, salads and strombolisGreen Leaf's features tossed salads, made-to-order wraps, grilled panini sandwiches and home made soups.
Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt features frozen fruit Smoothies, fruit Frosties, frozen yogurt
Frozen yogurt
Frozen yogurt is a frozen dessert containing yogurt or other dairy products. It is slightly more tart than ice cream, as well as lower in fat...
sundaes and milkshakes, healthy snacks and hand-rolled pretzels.
South Philly Steak’s and Fries features classic Philly cheese steak
Cheesesteak
A cheesesteak, also known as a Philadelphia cheesesteak, Philly cheesesteak, cheese steak, or steak and cheese, is a sandwich made from thinly-sliced pieces of steak and melted cheese in a long roll...
sandwiches and fresh-cut fries, chicken cheese steaks, deli subs, Philly-style baked potatoes, and South Philly
South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...
salads.
Locations
Besides Villa's full-service locations in New Jersey, their restaurants can found in high traffic areas like airports, sports and entertainment venues, retail outletRetailing
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
centers, casinos, regional malls, travel plazas, transport hubs and universities.
Internationally, Villa Enterprises currently operates 22 locations in Italy, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Kuwait, the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and Mexico. Villa began franchising operations in the U.S. and abroad in 1999.