Marco's Pizza Expands Westward with 12-Location Deal in Southern California

Toledo, Ohio-based Marco's Pizza has inked a franchise development agreement that will bring a dozen new locations to the Southern California market. The 12-unit deal places entrepreneur Baljit Gill at the helm of the expansion, marking one of the brand's larger regional growth commitments outside its Midwestern stronghold.

According to Shopping Center Business, Gill will own and operate all 12 restaurants under the franchise agreement. The deal signals continued confidence in quick-service restaurant expansion within the competitive Southern California corridor.

Key Details

• Brand: Marco's Pizza, headquartered in Toledo, Ohio
• Franchisee: Baljit Gill
• Unit Count: 12 new restaurant locations
• Target Market: Southern California
• Ownership Structure: Franchisee-owned and operated
• Timeline: Development schedule has not been publicly disclosed

Specific site selections, lease negotiations, and projected opening dates have not yet been announced. The 12-unit commitment typically suggests a multi-year development timeline, requiring Gill to secure retail space across multiple submarkets within the region.

Market Context

For commercial real estate professionals tracking quick-service restaurant tenants, Marco's expansion adds another active pizza operator competing for inline retail and pad sites across Southern California. The region remains one of the most competitive QSR markets in the country, with established players like Domino's, Pizza Hut, and regional chains already holding substantial market share.

The 12-unit deal suggests potential demand for 12,000 to 24,000 square feet of restaurant space, depending on whether locations are situated in endcap, freestanding, or inline retail formats. Typical Marco's Pizza locations range from approximately 1,200 to 2,000 square feet.

Southern California's retail vacancy rate has tightened considerably in recent quarters, particularly for well-located QSR pads with drive-thru capability. Landlords and shopping center owners with available restaurant space may find Marco's an increasingly active tenant as the brand executes its national expansion strategy.

The franchise model shifts site selection and lease negotiation responsibilities to Gill, who will need to identify locations meeting Marco's operational requirements — including visibility, access, parking, and delivery radius optimization. This creates opportunities for CRE brokers specializing in restaurant site selection within the Inland Empire, Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Diego markets.

Marco's Pizza operates over 1,100 locations across 34 states, positioning itself as the fifth-largest pizza brand in the United States by unit count. The Southern California expansion aligns with the company's stated growth objectives in Western markets, where brand awareness remains lower than in its core Midwest territories.

For landlords, the deal represents a creditworthy national tenant with a proven franchise model. For competing pizza chains, it signals that Southern California's pizza segment still attracts investment capital despite saturation concerns. Gill's 12-unit commitment indicates conviction that market share remains available for operators willing to invest in real estate and buildout.