Food & Drink International - Winter 2017, Volume 2 - 88
r RESTAURANTS Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro Dare to be Different Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro's authentic formula for success allows it to grow. By Kat Zeman company profile Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro www.matchboxrestaurants.com Headquarters: Washington, D.C. Employees: 2,000+ Specialty: Wood-fired brick oven pizza, burgers and craft beer Stephen Lyons, vice president of culinary innovation: "We are scouting other locations right now." I t's casual, cool and contemporary. >> Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro is famous for wood-fired brick oven thin-crust pizzas and juicy grilled Angus mini burgers. 88 food & drink international * winter 2017 volume 2 * www.fooddrink-magazine.com But aside from atmosphere, Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro's culinary creations have helped propel the Washington, D.C.-based restaurant chain into new territories. Owned by Matchbox Food Group, Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro has 11 locations throughout Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland, Texas and Florida. "We're scouting other locations right now," says Stephen Lyons, vice president of culinary innovation. "There's a couple of locations that have caught our eye." The next few locations will likely be scattered throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia - territory where Matchbox has developed a reputation, he says. The restaurant chain has been growing organically for many years, but it is preparing to grow strategically in the future. "We're going to be smart, systematic and move at a pace at which we can make sure our culture stays in place," Lyons says. "We don't want growth just for the sake of growth." Matchbox restaurants tend to do well in neighborhoods where urban meets suburban, he says. "Every time