A Chicago-style pizza concept known for its crackly, caramelized crust is setting up shop in Franklin, marking its first foray into Williamson County. Lefty's Pizza Kitchen announced via Instagram that it's coming soon to 102 Lumber Drive, taking over a storefront in the Village Place Shopping Center that previously housed a Penn Station East Coast Subs.
According to WhatNow, the new Franklin location will serve Chicago-style pizza alongside Italian street food, with a signature caramelized crust as its centerpiece. The chain hasn't released its full Franklin menu yet, but its existing lineup elsewhere includes cheesesteaks, hoagies, burgers, wings, chicken sandwiches, loaded fries, chicken tenders, cheesesticks, egg rolls, and desserts, the outlet reports. No opening date, hours, or complete menu have been announced, though the company says more details are expected as the opening date approaches.
A Recipe Passed Down From a Chicago Legend
The pizzeria's roots trace back to 2018, when former commodities trader John Munao founded Lefty's Pizza Kitchen in Wilmette, Illinois. Munao learned his caramelized pan-crust technique directly from Burt Katz, the pizzaiolo widely credited as the pioneer of the style in suburban Chicago, and sold his stake in Burt's Place, according to Patch.
That caramelized ring around the crust comes from a decades-old technique in which cheese is pressed along the pan's perimeter so it melts and browns against the hot metal during baking. The crispy cheese edge is known as frico, and the style traces to 1946. Per Ooni, the method produces a distinct crunchy, cheesy edge that sets the style apart from standard deep dish. Chicago's pizza identity isn't limited to deep pan pies, either — the city is also known for tavern-style thin crust, baked crisp and sliced into small squares called a party cut, a format detailed by Red Sauce America.
Expansion Beyond the Midwest
Lefty's has Texas-area ordering locations, extending its reach beyond Chicagoland.
Lefty's will be the newest name in what's become a genuinely crowded Williamson County pizza market. Nashville-born Slim + Husky's opened at The Factory at Franklin in September 2025. California-based Slice House by Tony Gemignani, meanwhile, opened its first Tennessee restaurant in downtown Franklin at 98 E. Main Street in April 2025, per FranklinIs, adding yet another specialty pizza style to the local mix.
Hoodline has reported plans for Bravado in the former Honeysuckle space, with a late-July opening targeted.
For now, Lefty's Pizza Kitchen has kept most specifics under wraps, with no confirmed opening date, hours, or finalized Franklin menu. The company says it will share more information as the opening date draws closer.
