From its first location in Upper Arlington, to eight across Central Ohio and eight more across the state within three years, it’s no surprise Piada tops the list for high-growth small business. The eatery puts an Italian spin on the fast-casual concept that has consistently been taking a bigger share of the restaurant market.
The mass-customizeable menu appeals to a variety of palates. Customers can order pasta, salad or a namesake piada with variety of sauces, proteins and toppings.
“I think people in Columbus appreciate great food,” owner Chris Doody said in an August interview. “I think they have discerning tastes and know what we’re doing is better quality, served at value, in a cool, hip atmosphere.”
Piada’s rapid expansion can be attributed in part to Doody’s extensive restaurant experience. He sold his popular restaurant chains Brio and Bravo! before founding Piada. Doody used his kn0w-how to perfect the concept before opening the first location. After that,
“We were able to then build the subsequent restaurants relatively quickly to test within the Columbus market,” he said.
The Top 10 High-Growth Small Businesses for 2013:
- Piada
- Jeni’s Ice Creams
- Homage
- Mikey’s Late night Slice
- Look Human / Print Syndicate
- Uptivity (Formerly CallCopy)
- Dynamit
- Orange Barrel
- Middlewest Spirits
- Columbus Food League
