A pizza chain had extra-large Boise plans. Its only Idaho store has closed in Meridian
Marco’s Pizza had extra-large plans for the Treasure Valley.
Months after opening a restaurant in early 2018 at 4865 N. Ten Mile Road in Meridian, the chain’s publicity firm fired an email to reporters. Subject line: “Story idea: Marco’s Pizza Sets Eyes on Boise, Aims to Develop 5 New Locations.”
By 2020, no less!
A couple of Boise media outlets bit. “Pizza giant Marco’s slowly inches into Idaho,” was the Idaho Business Review headline.
Four years later, Marco’s Pizza never delivered.
Not only does the franchise chain not have a single Boise restaurant, but its only Idaho location — the one in Meridian — has closed permanently. (Not “temporarily, ” as listed on Google.) Signs on the doors graciously thank customers. “... We are very lucky to have been part of this community,” the message adds.
If you didn’t manage to stab a fork into one of those crustless $7.99 Pizza Bowls? You’re out of luck. At least for now.
Marco’s is no Domino’s or Pizza Hut, but it definitely has a significant piece of the industry’s pie. A fresh news release last week called it “the No. 5 pizza brand in the U.S.” based on systemwide sales. “The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate over 1,000 stores in 34 states with locations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas,” the release explained. Marco’s is aiming to ring up $1 billion this year, it added, with the goal of hitting 2,000 locations by 2026.
Just not so much in the West — so far. Most Marco’s restaurants are in the eastern half of America. With Meridian gone, you’ll notice exactly none in the Northwest, according to the chain’s store locator on its website.
Back in 2018, Marco’s was “the nation’s fastest growing pizza chain,” with “eyes on growing its presence throughout Idaho ... .”
Could that vision still materialize? Perhaps.
Until then, feel free to scrape the toppings off a slice of Flying Pie into a cereal bowl.
Marco’s Pizza’s closure was first reported by BoiseDev.
This story was originally published June 3, 2022 at 2:26 PM.