Owners Share Real Reason Why They’re Selling Popular Rochester Restaurant

Restaurant news has been coming fast over the last few months with places like The Noodle House, Riley's Restaurant, and Popeye's preparing to open, while Saints on Second reopened and Wingstop officially started serving in NW Rochester.

It hasn't been all positive. Stir Fry Express, Mill Valley Kitchen, and two chicken joints closed their doors for good. Now, the owners of one of those chicken spots, Porch Chicken, have put another local staple on the market.

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Championship Dining, the Rochester restaurant group behind Porch, Hot Chip Burger Bar, and Boxcar Hippie, has officially listed North Mr. Pizza. CORE Real Estate Group posted a message from the owners explaining that the decision comes down to family:

We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built and grateful for the community that has supported our family-owned restaurant over the years. This decision really comes down to family and the next chapter of our lives. My wife and I want to downsize, spend more quality time with our family, and explore relocating to a new area. This wasn’t an easy decision, but we feel it’s the right one for our family. We’re thankful for every customer, employee, and member of this community who has been part of our journey. North Mr. Pizza will stay a part of the fabric of the community and continue to be your local family restaurant.

From Chef Boyardee to Rochester Staple

The Mr. Pizza story dates back to 1963 when Mark Fulton’s dad was at home making a boxed Chef Boyardee pizza and realized, "We could make this a business." They opened the original spot behind Daube’s Bakery, launching a decades-long family operation.

Mark eventually married Jane, a waitress at the South store, and together with Mark's brother, they expanded to 28th Street NW in 2006. Soon after, the North and South locations split for good.

Troy Dunken TSM Rochester

The Fulton family ran North Mr. Pizza through 2019 before turning over the reins to local operators Justin Schoville and Lindsay Zubay of Championship Dining in 2020 to keep the tradition alive.

Now, the hunt is on for a new owner to write the next chapter for this local favorite. North Mr. Pizza at 4040 28th Street NW is officially listed for $3,800,000 by CORE Real Estate Group, with the turnkey package including the building, business, equipment, and proprietary recipes.