Stop us if you've heard this one before: a new restaurant looking to revolutionize quick-serve Italian fare without having a single location open, was offering franchises.
Pochino Italy, described as a fast-casual Italian eatery, was looking to do just that in Kennesaw but has closed its one and only location after less than two years in business.
The restaurant never posted about the closure on its social media pages but its website is now down and the restaurant has been closed and abandoned for several days, according to locals in the area.
ToNeTo Atlanta first sounded the alarm on this concept in January 2024, ahead of their May 2024 debut.
The debut location was located at 600 Chastain Road #416, in a 1,742 square foot space previously home to 1000 Degrees Pizza, a "me too" build-your-own pizza franchise that ultimately closed all three of its Atlanta area units.
The Village at Town Park, the center where Pochino chose to open, was already home to a host of popular restaurants including Taco Mac, Chick-fil-A, Willy's Mexicana Grill, and Panera, and is less than two miles from the campus of Kennesaw State University. All of these attributes likely contributed to the appeal of the center and the area to launch the brand.
According to the restaurant's website:
"Pochino Italy is not just a restaurant; it is a celebration of Italy's rich culinary heritage. We take pride in serving an authentic Italian menu that showcases the diverse flavors and regional specialties of Italy. From the first bite to the last, every dish tells a story of passion, tradition, and the finest ingredients. Our commitment to authenticity and quality ensures that your dining experience is nothing short of exceptional."
The restaurant featured "homemade pasta made fresh daily" where "sauces are carefully crafted with the freshest ingredients imported from Italy."
Aside from the food, Pochino made some bold promises regarding the experience one could expect when patronizing the business.
"But our dedication doesn't stop at the food. We believe that creating a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere is just as important as the dishes we serve. When you step into Pochino Italy, you are greeted with warm smiles and an ambiance that reflects the warmth and hospitality of Italian culture. Whether you choose to dine in and savor the Italian charm or opt for the convenience of take-out, we strive to make every visit a memorable one."
The restaurant's main menu - fresh-made pasta, "pinsa" (a Roman-style pizza), and gelato was not unlike several other concepts that have tried to do similar things only to drastically shrink in size or close entirely.
Jennifer Erdman, Giuseppe Barbera, Andrea Casarin, Chris Lowe, and Sam Lundy were all co-founders of Pochino.
Multiple concepts, including Rize Artisan Pizza and The Local Pizzaiolo opened two locations in metro Atlanta, promised several more, and then closed after less than one and two years, respectively. Atlanta-based FIGO, too, is a shell of its former self. Launched in Atlanta in 2002, the fresh pasta shop grew to about ten locations around metro Atlanta, but today operates just one standard restaurant in addition to a food truck often found in Little 5 Points. Artuzzi's Italian Kitchen, another Atlanta-based concept, quickly grew to ten locations with dozens more planned, only to close down everything.
Amazingly, months before location one had opened, there was already a franchising tab on the Pochino website. It's unclear if the group ever sold any franchises, but given that the idea of a franchise is that a business is a proven, repeatable success, it seems unlikely.
Ultimately, the eatery might have found greater success elsewhere in metro Atlanta. The food was good - albeit pricey - and they did offer popular pasta-making classes, but being so close to a public university, something they seemingly thought was a good idea, was probably not the best laid plan.
The Pochino Facebook page suggested that the restaurant had been in the works since at least October 2022, when the company indicated it was "coming to the Greater Metro Atlanta Area in 2023." This timeline would mean the restaurant spent more time "in development" than actually open, so one might have thought they would have thought this through a little better.
Do Pochino's planned offerings excite you? Do you think Pochino can execute well on all that they have planned? Will Pochino be successful?
Please share your thoughts below.
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