---
title: "Slice of Home: Dadeville Native Brings Mr Gatti's Pizza Back to His Hometown"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/75fe9db7-8d4f-4f8b-b8ca-a23c38c63c44
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20230926_slice_of_home_dadeville_native_brings_mr_gatti39s_pizza_back_to_his_hometow.html
category: "Pizza"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Pizza"
published: 2023-09-26T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T17:38:52.894Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1504674900247-0877df9cc836?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Slice of Home: Dadeville Native Brings Mr Gatti's Pizza Back to His Hometown

**TL;DR:** Franchise owners Mark Weeks and Kurt Hayley are bringing Mr Gatti's Pizza back to Dadeville, Alabama, after recently opening a location in Opelika. The new location is a way for Hayley to give back to his hometown, where he grew up and has fond memories.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2023-09-26. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20230926_slice_of_home_dadeville_native_brings_mr_gatti39s_pizza_back_to_his_hometow.html).*

## Story

Franchise owners Mark Weeks and Kurt Hayley, who have cherished the Mr Gatti's Pizza brand since childhood, are spearheading this new expansion.

“Growing up in Dadeville, I enjoyed visiting Lake Martin, exploring downtown and attending Dadeville High School. This community left a lasting, positive impression on me, and I want to return the favor,” Hayley said. “I can't think of a better way to express my gratitude than by bringing back Mr Gatti's pizza, pasta and salad to my hometown.”

The Dadeville debut follows closely behind the duo’s recent opening of Mr Gatti’s Pizza in Opelika, Alabama, which features a modern, bar-charmed ambiance perfect for laid-back gatherings and date nights.

“For both residents and visitors of Dadeville, this is more than just the opening of another restaurant. It's the beginning of new family traditions, where the flavors of pizzas meet the laughter of families enjoying quality time together,” said Jim Phillips, CEO at Mr Gatti’s Pizza. “Weeks and Hayley, deeply rooted in the community, are the very essence of our brand. There's no one better suited to bring this new location to life."

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- unit expansion (topic)
- franchise owners (topic)
- Mr Gatti's Pizza (company)
- Jim Phillips (person)
- hometown expansion (topic)
- Opelika, Alabama (location)
- Dadeville (location)

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Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20230926_slice_of_home_dadeville_native_brings_mr_gatti39s_pizza_back_to_his_hometow.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/75fe9db7-8d4f-4f8b-b8ca-a23c38c63c44).