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PieZoni’s Poised for Apponaug’s Promise

Nick Lacroix, 27, outside his newly built Piezonis franchise at 3335 Post Road.
Nick Lacroix, 27, outside his newly built PieZoni’s franchise at 3335 Post Road.

Warwick – The Apponaug Circulator Project promises a boon to local businesses with an eased traffic flow, and local PieZoni’s franchise owner Nick Lacroix, 27, has positioned his new store to take advantage of it.

“This community is definitely on the up and up,” said Lacroix shortly after a brief ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Scott Avedisian and PieZoni’s manager, Matthew Walker.

Lacroix noticed the potential two years ago while he was working at PieZoni’s at its previous location, which was leveled to make way for the new Cumberland Farms next door.  At the time, he said, Cumberland Farms executives were in talks with PieZoni’s CEO Joe Ferriera to acquire the property.

Cumberland Farms already had the spot where the defunct Gulf gas station was located at Apponaug Four Corners, and wanted the PieZoni’s property to expand their parking lot behind the new convenience store.  They also had the old Cumberland Farms store location on the south side of PieZoni’s. Ferriera and Cumberland Farms agreed to switch ownership of the parcels, Lacroix explained.

The old PieZonis's leveled to make way for a new Cumberland Farms at Apponaug Four Corners.
The old PieZoni’s was leveled to make way for a new Cumberland Farms at Apponaug Four Corners.

Lacroix, who was juggling studies for his URI business degree with working at the pizza shop, worked with Ferriera to purchase the franchise and finance the construction of a new PieZonis on the spot of the old Cumberland Farms lot. Doing that required a business loan, but, fortunately, he’d been carefully building and conserving his credit, Lacroix said.

The loan and the franchise came together with Ferriera’s help, Lacroix said, and construction on the new PieZoni’s took about 18 months, during which he also completed his BA in business administration and accounting at URI.

The number of buildings on that section of street never changed — the address is still 3335 Post Road, although the restaurant is a little closer to East Greenwich than before.

Since the new shop opened, “The community has responded tenfold,” Lacroix said.

Lacroix is also looking forward to when the Apponaug construction is finished, and the promised ease of travel through the area, especially past his PieZoni’s location.

 

 

Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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