Husband-and-Wife Duo Brings Crust Pizza Co. to Summerwood, Texas

Shashin and Ashwini Shah are bringing the beloved Crust Pizza Co. to Summerwood, Texas, inspired by their own experiences as customers and their desire to create a welcoming space for families. With backgrounds in management consulting and human resources, as well as a shared passion for delivering quality dining experiences, the Shahs see Crust Pizza Co. as the perfect opportunity to blend their business expertise with their love of food and community.

The couple has spent years exploring franchise opportunities and knew Crust Pizza Co. was the right fit when the chance to take over a store already under construction came along. They admired the brand’s commitment to fresh ingredients, cozy atmosphere and reputation as a neighborhood favorite. Now, they’re focused on building a successful business that reflects their values while creating a gathering place for local families.

Looking ahead, the Shahs plan to expand with additional locations in the next five years, but for now, their priority is to establish their Summerwood location as the go-to neighborhood spot for quality pizza and family-friendly dining.

1851 Franchise spoke to the Shahs about their franchise journey. Here’s what they had to say.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Shashin Shah: My background, for most of my career post-education, has been as a management consultant. I’ve been helping companies around the world with their business challenges in areas like strategy, growth and cost management. Essentially, I provided roadmaps for what companies wanted to achieve five to ten years down the line. I did that for about 20 years before deciding it was time for a change. That’s when I started looking into franchise-related businesses.

We spent a significant amount of time researching various franchises. It wasn’t easy — some opportunities fell through at the last minute — but I had a friend who ran about 20 pretzel franchises. He and I partnered up to open one together. For me, it was about learning something new. Corporate and franchise business worlds are different, so I wanted to explore this new area. We’ve been running that franchise for the last four or five months now and I’ve learned a lot and, more importantly, have enjoyed the experience.

We wanted to expand on that model. A pretzel franchise is fairly simple — you roll the dough, bake it and serve. I see Crust Pizza as an extension of that, though on a much larger scale. It’s like “pretzels on steroids,” with a broader menu but related processes. We’ve also watched Crust Pizza grow since we moved to The Woodlands in 2008, so the opportunity felt right when it came up. Initially, we were hesitant about food service due to the time commitments — 365 days a year, seven days a week — but the pretzel business eased those concerns. When the opportunity arose to take over a store already under construction, we decided to go for it.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Shashin: For me, franchising was an unknown world. I knew others were successful in it — many start with one and scale to 15 or 20 locations fairly rapidly — but I didn’t fully understand how it worked. Once I got into it, I was impressed by the business model. Franchises with a strong track record offer a proven formula and tremendous support. You bring your business skills to manage and focus on critical elements to make it work. It’s not rocket science — it’s about providing a superior customer experience supported by a great consistent product and effective, efficient operations.

Franchising also feels less stressful compared to my corporate career. You’re working for yourself, not running on someone else’s treadmill every year. That sense of ownership is incredibly satisfying.

If you have the patience, stress tolerance and willingness to do the upfront work, franchising is a great opportunity. A lot of the groundwork is already done for you with a proven model. However, you can’t just sit back; you have to put in the effort. At the end of the day, it’s about providing a fantastic product and service to your customers. Even if the franchise has all the infrastructure in place, you still need to get customers through the door.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Ashwini Shah: We explored a lot of franchise opportunities, but Crust Pizza stood out. We’ve been customers ourselves and loved the quality and vibe of the restaurant. I was not a big pizza eater but Crust Pizza changed that; it’s a place I truly enjoy having a cozy and casual meal. I told my husband, “Why don’t we explore this franchise?” We reached out and fortunately it worked out. We also noticed that many of our friends love it, which reaffirmed our decision.

Shashin: We both enjoy cooking at home, so when we eat out, we want it to be a satisfying experience. Crust Pizza delivers fresh, consistent quality and provides a cozy, family-friendly atmosphere. It’s also great value for money compared to other options.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Shashin: Initially, our goal is to learn more about the business. Every location has unique challenges depending on the customer base and locale. Our primary focus is on delivering an excellent customer experience, as Crust Pizza thrives in neighborhoods where families treat it as their go-to casual dining spot. If we get the inputs right — like consistent product quality and great customer service — success will follow.

Looking ahead, we aim to expand to four or five locations within the next five years. Once we fully understand the key elements for success, we’re confident about scaling.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Shashin: For me, it’s all about the experience. Life has shifted away from simply buying a product — it’s about creating memorable experiences, whether shopping online or dining at a local restaurant. If you focus on delivering a great experience, everything else falls into place.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Shashin: Keep it simple and focus on what matters. Be meticulous about understanding upfront costs and managing your investment. Operationally, it’s about having the patience and risk tolerance to see things through. But most importantly, focus on revenue growth rather than just cost minimization. As I always say to my team: prioritize maximizing revenue while optimizing, not minimizing, costs. If you’re willing to put in the effort, franchising can be incredibly rewarding.

ABOUT CRUST PIZZA CO.

Crust Pizza Co. is a rapidly growing pizza franchise known for its nostalgic dine-in experience and commitment to quality ingredients. Founded in 2011, Crust Pizza Co. has expanded from a single location in The Woodlands, Texas, to 27 restaurants nationwide. The franchise offers a unique combination of fresh, high-quality pizzas, a modern yet cozy dining atmosphere, and robust franchisee support. For more information, please visit https://crustpizzaco.com/franchising/.