Simple Simon's Pizza opening in Springfield

An Oklahoma-based pizza restaurant chain with some 250 locations is coming to the Queen City.

Franchisee Brian Hillman, of Springfield, said a March opening is targeted for Simple Simon's Pizza at 1317 W. Sunshine St. in Elfindale Corners, at the Fort Avenue intersection. With business partner Ethan Hart, a Kansas resident, Hillman operates the franchise through E & B Holdings LLC.

It's a return to the market for the restaurant, according to Hillman.

"Simple Simon's was here previously, probably 20 years ago," he said. "This is something I was looking to do as an investment."

E & B Holdings has franchise rights for all of Springfield, as well as surrounding communities, he said, noting his company plans to add up to seven locations in the area.

"We're going to test the market for probably the first six to eight months with this first location to make sure we're spot- on with our projections," Hillman said. "We anticipate that we will be."

For the first Springfield store, startup costs are around $300,000, including franchise expenses, he said. E & B Holdings signed a five-year lease, with a five-year renewal option, at roughly $2,000 per month, Hillman added. A Greene County assessor filing lists the property owners as South Valley Apartments LLC et al and Southernwood Condominium LLC et al.

The more than 1,700-square-foot Simple Simon's Pizza restaurant in Elfindale Corners will be a delivery and carry-out location without a dine-in lobby, he said. In addition to traditional pizza sizes, Simple Simon's also has a 30-inch option known as the Beast Pizza, as well as calzones and strombolis, Hillman said.

The space previously housed a MetroPCS store.