IMMOKALEE, Fla. — Domino’s Pizza money may have helped build the new town of Ave Maria, but the first pizza place in the southwest Florida development will not be part of that chain.
The News-Press of Fort Myers reports that Milano’s Pizza will open this fall in the town that serves a new Roman Catholic university. The school and town are both backed by Domino’s founder Thomas Monaghan, who sold Domino’s in 1998 and has used his fortune to create Ave Maria.
Milano’s, an independent pizza restaurant, will open in the town center across from a landmark 10-story church. The area is already served by a Domino’s franchise in nearby Naples, and the chain has no plans for an Ave Maria location.
Monaghan said he is OK with his former company passing on Ave Maria. Not only will Milano’s have sit-down dining, but the restaurant also can serve beer and wine.
“Domino’s doesn’t allow that,” Monaghan said.
