MOD Pizza has closed at 12027 Rockville Pike at the Montrose Crossing shopping center. The pizzeria opened here in August of 2019. This is probably not a total shock, as the chain closed 26 of its locations in Q1 of 2024. At the time of those closures, MOD described those stores as "underperformers," so we can't rule out the anti-business policies or moribund economy of Montgomery County as contributing factors.
The "fast-fired" pizza chains as a whole seem to have struggled in MoCo while enjoying longevity elsewhere. Blaze Pizza didn't even last two years at Montgomery Mall, closing in 2016, but its multiple outposts right next door in Gorgeous Prince George's County are still serving pies in under 180 seconds today. Yet &pizza seems to continue to thrive at its many Montgomery County locations, including one about a block away from this MOD at Pike & Rose, so they must be doing something right that some of the other chains weren't.
The couple times I went in there the employees had a weird vibe. Made me not want to go back.
ReplyDeleteMinimum wage in MoCo goes up to $17.15 (I think it is) on 7/1. Hmm...
ReplyDeleteA few years ago, the whole segment (also including, e.g., Pieology) seemed like it was too much of a fad, with multiple chains expanding quickly. &pizza's likely strength is that it's a locally based chain.
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