---
title: "Franchisees Take Over Grimaldi's Pizzeria Location"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/f437f70c-cd4c-4cb8-bb40-1a2af7221e1b
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/articles/20260916_franchisees_take_over_grimaldis_pizzeria_location.html
author: "M. Scott Morris"
category: "Pizza"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Pizza"
published: 2026-09-16T07:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T14:57:23.063Z
image: https://imgs.franchising.com/art/articles/10824_plate.jpg
---

# Franchisees Take Over Grimaldi's Pizzeria Location

**TL;DR:** UNIV Hospitality of Fort Myers, led by Gary Patel and Anil Harkhani, has bought a Grimaldi's Pizzeria location in Fort Myers, Florida, and plans to open five additional restaurants in Southwest Florida. The acquisition marks Grimaldi's continued franchise growth in the state.

*By M. Scott Morris, originally published in Franchising.com on 2026-09-16. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/articles/20260916_franchisees_take_over_grimaldis_pizzeria_location.html).*

## Story

UNIV Hospitality of Fort Myers, led by principals Gary Patel and Anil Harkhani, bought a Grimaldi's Pizzeria location in Fort Myers, Florida. The franchisees plan to open five additional restaurants across Sarasota, Lee, and Collier counties, expanding the brand's presence throughout Southwest Florida. "With the acquisition of Grimaldi's Bell Tower restaurant and plans to expand across Southwest Florida, we look forward to building on the restaurant's success and bringing Grimaldi's to even more communities throughout the region," Harkhani said.

"We plan to bring the same family-friendly, casual yet upscale atmosphere and award-winning pizzas to communities across Southwest Florida." The agreement marks Grimaldi's continued franchise growth and expands the brand's presence in Florida, bringing its signature pizzas, calzones, and other fan favorites to additional markets across the state. Southwest Florida is the third domestic franchise territory for Grimaldi's, joining Alabama and Iowa, as Grimaldi's continues its expansion.

"We're excited to welcome Gary, Anil, and the UNIV Hospitality team to the Grimaldi's franchise family," said Michael A. Flaum, COO of Grimaldi's Pizzeria. "Their experience and commitment to hospitality make them a strong partner as we continue to grow the Grimaldi's brand."

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- QSR (sector)
- franchise growth (topic)
- restaurant expansion (topic)
- M. Scott Morris (person)
- Fort Myers, Florida (location)
- Southwest Florida (location)
- brand presence (topic)
- Grimaldi's Pizzeria (company)
- location acquisition (topic)
- Gary Patel (person)
- UNIV Hospitality of Fort Myers (company)

---
Originally reported by M. Scott Morris, Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/articles/20260916_franchisees_take_over_grimaldis_pizzeria_location.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/f437f70c-cd4c-4cb8-bb40-1a2af7221e1b).