Russo's New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen has opened its second Arizona restaurant at 521 S. College Avenue in Tempe, near Arizona State University. The restaurant is locally owned and operated by franchisees Kristina and Christian Alvarez, and it brings New York-style pizza, fresh-made pasta and Russo family recipes to the ASU community. The opening was announced through PR Newswire on September 24, 2026.
Meet the owners
Kristina and Christian Alvarez chose Russo's because of the food, the ingredients and the scratch-made recipes, according to the opening announcement. They wanted to serve a product they could be proud of in their own community.
What is on the menu
The Tempe menu includes giant New York pizza slices and the 28-inch Giant Party Pizza, alongside fresh-made pasta, chicken Parmesan, lasagna, meatballs, Italian sandwiches, salads and desserts. The announcement describes fresh dough fermented for 24 hours. Offerings can vary by restaurant and market.
What it shows prospective owners
Tempe is a concrete example of the concept arriving in a new neighborhood with local owners leading the restaurant. It also shows the four sales channels in practice: dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering, each connecting the menu to a different occasion, from a student lunch to an office order or group gathering.
A new opening is a milestone, but each proposed restaurant needs its own evaluation. An existing restaurant does not establish that another territory is available or that a future restaurant will achieve similar results. Candidates should discuss trade area, site, competition, staffing and operating plan with Franchise Development.
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