G. Brint Ryan, the Dallas-based entrepreneur and longtime Mr Gatti's Pizza franchisee, has completed his acquisition of the remaining ownership interest in the 60-year-old pizza and family entertainment chain, becoming the brand's primary owner. The deal, announced August 6, also signals the start of CEO Jim Phillips' planned retirement after more than a decade leading what the company describes as one of its most significant growth periods.
Ryan first became a co-owner of Mr Gatti's in December 2025. Phillips will stay on as CEO through the transition while the company searches for a successor.
Phillips' Eleven-Year Run
When Phillips acquired Mr Gatti's in 2015, the brand operated in just three states. By the time of his departure, it spans 12 states, has grown its restaurant footprint by 50%, and nearly doubled systemwide revenue over the past five years. That trajectory held through the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent cost pressures that reshaped the broader pizza and family-dining segment.
Beyond unit growth, Phillips overhauled the franchise infrastructure: standardizing agreements, rebuilding the marketing fund, restoring annual franchisee conventions, introducing proprietary retail products, and reviving original recipes under what the company calls a food-first philosophy. "Leading Mr Gatti's over the past 11 years has been one of the great privileges of my career," Phillips said. "We've built a culture centered on partnership and long-term success."
What Ryan Brings to the Table
Ryan is the founder and chairman of Ryan, LLC, a Dallas-based firm. His background as a franchisee — operating Mr Gatti's locations before investing in the franchisor — gives him ground-level perspective on the system he now controls. Since becoming co-owner late last year, he has worked alongside Phillips to shore up the company's financial position ahead of this full transition.
"Jim has led one of the most impressive transformations in our brand's history," Ryan said. "My wife Amanda and I are honored to carry that legacy forward as we invest in the continued growth of Mr Gatti's."
With more than 200 locations open or in development across Texas and the Southeastern United States, Mr Gatti's sits in a competitive but resilient niche: value-positioned, family-oriented pizza paired with entertainment — a format that has shown durability even as fast-casual and delivery-first concepts reshaped consumer expectations. The brand's recent recognition on the Nation's Restaurant News 100 Under 100 list in both 2024 and 2025 and a No. 8 ranking on the Global Franchise Power List in 2024 signal that franchise investors are paying attention.
Implications for Franchisees
For the operators inside the Mr Gatti's system, the ownership change arrives at a moment of momentum. Ryan's dual role — as both a former franchisee and now the franchisor — could reinforce the brand's stated commitment to franchisee-first culture, though the incoming CEO search will be the clearest signal of strategic direction. Operators evaluating franchise investment in pizza and entertainment concepts will be watching closely to see who fills Phillips' seat and whether the expansion pace accelerates under new ownership.
Franchise development information is available at gattispizzafranchise.com.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
