Attention, Walmart shoppers

Fort Worth-based pizza chain set to expand with Walmart partnership

Walmart is opening several in-store Mr Gatti's.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Gatti's

Pizza and shopping go hand in hand, at least that's what one Fort Worth-based pizza chain thinks. Mr Gatti's Pizza is partnering with Walmart to roll out 92 Mr Gatti's locations in stores in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Kentucky.

There are currently three Mr Gatti's locations in North Texas in Fort Worth at 2812 Horne St. #100, Plano, and Allen with a heavy presence in South Texas. This partnership between Mr Gatti's and Walmart will start later this year across North Texas and southern Oklahoma with the following 12 new locations:

1201 Stone St. Kilgore, TX
2500 Daniel McCall Dr., Lufkin, TX
1406 E. Milam St., Mexia, TX
2765 W. Washington St., Stephenville, TX
2121 State Hwy 16 S, Graham, TX
3130 Lawrence Rd., Wichita Falls, TX
1800 Lawrence St., Gainesville, TX
2801 E. Interstate 20, Hudson Oaks, TX
3393 N. 81 Hwy, Duncan, OK
6301 N.W. Quannah Parker Trl, Lawton, OK
2001 S. 1st St., Chickasha, OK
1419 N. Country Club Rd., Ada, OK

"Driven by the retailer's focus on value and quality, Walmart approached us about a partnership because it recognized Mr Gatti's as a regional favorite with a 55-year legacy of delivering exceptional taste and experiences to our customers," said Jim Phillips, CEO of Mr Gatti's Pizza, says in a release.

The restaurant features a menu of eight types of pizzas and a build-your-own option, wings, pasta, mac & cheese, breadsticks, and salads. There are also dessert options including s'mores pizza and cinnamon sticks.

At one point, the chain had a buffet and arcade, but the North Texas locations don't have that feature.

The new locations inside Walmart will feature a new design, offering counter service and seating for customers. Walmart shoppers can also order through the Mr Gatti's app and have their food ready by the time they finish shopping. These locations will also offer delivery services to the surrounding communities.

Mr Gatti's Pizza, originally launched as The Pizza Place in Stephenville, Texas in 1964, was founded by James Eure. The restaurant moved to Austin in 1969 and adopted the name "Gatti" in homage to the maiden name of founder's wife. Another, now closed, Fort Worth location at 3280 W. Seventh St. was the first to use the Mr Gatti's name.

"We are thrilled to have Mr Gatti's Pizza in our stores to enhance our customers' shopping experience," Senior Manager Business Development at Walmart, Amy White, says in a release. "By bringing Mr Gatti's beloved menu into our stores, we can provide even more value and convenience for our shoppers, making it easier for families to enjoy a delicious meal."

There are intentions to eventually expand into additional Walmarts in other states. This expansion brings Mr Gatti's network to more than 230 locations that are either open or in development.

Doughnut News

Luscious doughnut shop Duck Donuts makes Fort Worth debut

Photo courtesy of Visit Addison

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A decadent new doughnut shop is coming to Fort Worth: Duck Donuts, a North Carolina-based chain known for serving doughnuts made to order, will open a shop at 6387 Camp Bowie Blvd. #A within the Ridglea Plaza Shopping Center in Fort Worth.

According to a release, the shop will open on Saturday December 21 at 7 am.

Duck Donuts opened its first locations in 2007 in the beach resort towns of Duck and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with the intention to create an oasis for vacationers. They're now headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and began franchising in 2013, with more than 150 locally owned and operated shops across 26 states and international locations. There was previously a DFW location in Addison on Belt Line Road that opened in 2020 but it did not survive the pandemic.

The Fort Worth shop is owned and operated by husband-and-wife Justin and Morgan Thomas.

“We are delighted to be opening in Fort Worth,” Justin says in a statement. “The community has been patiently waiting for us to open our doors, and now we cannot wait to sprinkle happiness to all with our warm, delicious and made-to-order doubhnuts.”

The 1,035-square-foot shop reflects the franchise’s reimagined design which gives a modern twist on their iconic beach theme and family-friendly atmosphere. Upon entering the store, customers are greeted by the aroma of warm, light vanilla cake doughnuts.

Customers can create their own combination by choosing from coatings, toppings, and drizzles, including traditional favorites such as chocolate icing with sprinkles and more adventurous creations such as maple icing with bacon.

Key to their appeal is the viewing area where children and adults alike can watch their doughnuts being made.

Many of their flavors have a beachy theme such as the Beach, a cake doughnut with vanilla icing dusted with cinnamon sugar; the Sunrise with lemon icing and raspberry drizzle; and the Beach Ball with vanilla icing, rainbow sprinkles, and chocolate drizzle.

They rotate in seasonal offerings such as the current lineup of mint-flavored flavors including chocolate icing with mint buttercream. The doughnuts themselves are limited to vanilla and chocolate cake; the flavors come primarily from icing.

In addition to doughnuts, the Fort Worth location will serve coffee, doughnut breakfast sandwiches, doughnut sundaes — in which a doughnut is topped with ice cream and syrup — plus frozen beverages and milkshakes.

doughnuts openings