Founding Dave’s Hot Chicken franchise leader joins as partner to scale cult-favorite New York slice joint across key U.S. markets
New York, NY (RestaurantNews.com) Prince St. Pizza, the New York City-born pizzeria known for its Sicilian-style square pies and signature pepperoni-loaded slices, has entered into a strategic partnership with restaurateur Lawrence Kourie to support the brand’s continued growth across the country.
Kourie, the founding and largest franchise owner of Dave’s Hot Chicken, brings more than a decade of experience building high-performing, multi-unit restaurant operations. In this new role, he will work alongside Prince St. leadership to expand its footprint while maintaining the product quality and culture that have defined its rise.
“Lawrence has built and operated one of the fastest-expanding restaurant concepts in the country, but what stands out is his disciplined approach to growth and brand integrity,” said Lawrence Longo, CEO of Prince St. Pizza. “He understands how to develop a concept without losing what made it special in the first place, which is critical as we enter this next phase.”
Kourie’s interest in Prince St. Pizza was driven by its organic reputation and strong consumer demand. After learning of the concept through word-of-mouth and later experiencing it firsthand in New York, he began exploring opportunities to get involved and connected directly with Longo.
“I have spent years evaluating restaurant concepts, and it is rare to find one that delivers both a strong product and a clear identity,” said Kourie. “What Prince St. has built is difficult to truly replicate. The focus now is on growing the brand in a way that preserves that foundation while introducing it to new communities.”
The national expansion partnership is already underway. The broader vision centers on translating the New York flagship experience into new regions without dilution. Kourie’s existing operations across multiple states are expected to support top-tier execution as the brand enters new territories.
“I’ve built my career around identifying concepts with real cultural and culinary significance and helping them reach more people,” Kourie added. “The opportunity here is to scale it thoughtfully, so that each new place experiences the brand in a way that feels authentic from day one. Like they are stepping into a true New York slice joint.”
The partnership marks a significant step in Prince St. Pizza’s long-term strategy, with a focus on introducing its signature offerings, including the Spicy Spring Sicilian square, to new markets nationwide. Prince St. Pizza has grown from its Nolita origins into a nationally recognized name, driven by its commitment to quality ingredients, in-house preparation and a distinct slice shop experience.
For more information, visit PrinceStreetPizza.com.
About Prince St. Pizza
Founded in 2012 in New York City’s Nolita neighborhood, Prince St. Pizza has become a cult-favorite for its Sicilian “SoHo” Squares and original Neapolitan-style pizzas. Rooted in the Morano family’s generations-old recipes and the philosophy that “if you can put it on pasta, you can put it on pizza,” the brand is known for handcrafted sauces made daily, fresh ingredients and dough perfected through a New York-style water filtration process – all delivering the signature slice shop experience that has expanded from New York to, California, Toronto and beyond, with 18 locations across the U.S. For more information, visit PrinceStreetPizza.com or follow along on Instagram and Facebook.
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