Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza Opening in Middleton
The local brand continues to grow its presence in Florida.
MIDDLETON, FL — Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza Middleton is planning a late fall opening for its 16th location at 2259 Dr. Randy McDaniel Way, Middleton, FL 34762.
The Florida brand is owned locally by Jerry Roberts, Joel Mills and Mike Akey, with Melissa Akey and Laurie Young still tied to the brand and active participants who continue to add value, director of marketing David Hew told Business Debut.
Founded in Gainesville in 2009, Piesanos has grown across Florida with granite stone-fired pizzas, Italian dishes and full-service dining. The Middleton restaurant will be the brand’s third location in The Villages area, Hew told Business Debut.
What to Expect
The restaurant will offer full-service dining with a full bar, along with a separate counter-service entrance for takeout orders. Guests will also be able to order online or through third-party delivery platforms, Hew told Business Debut.
The Middleton location is a new build with about 150 seats. Hew said the restaurant will include a patio facing a splash pad, along with an indoor-outdoor bar that opens to both the dining room and patio.
The space will also feature updated interior finishes, booths, wood details and a wine display, Hew told Business Debut. The media release describes the Middleton restaurant as the brand’s next-generation design, with its most expansive Express To-Go area to date.
Menu and Vision
Guests can expect Piesanos rolls, made with fresh stone-baked bread and served with Italian dressing, Romano and garlic, Hew told Business Debut. He also highlighted the Antico, a thin-crust pizza with mini cup-and-char pepperoni and fresh basil.
Hew also pointed to the pasta arrabbiata, made with Calabrese peppers and fresh mozzarella, as another menu item planned for the restaurant. The menu will continue to center on granite stone-fired pizza, pastas and Italian dishes, according to the media release.
“Back in 2009, Mike Akey and Joel Mills, co-founders for Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza, opened up their very first Piesanos in Gainesville,” Hew told Business Debut. “We knew that there was a need for good high quality pizza and Italian food in Florida, and the market absolutely met us there.”
David Hew, Piesanos’ director of marketing, has been with the brand for nearly nine years after starting as a general manager in the Ocala market. He later became an area supervisor overseeing Orlando and South Central Florida before moving into his current marketing role, where he works with individual stores on community connections, local business outreach, catering needs and overall brand strategy, Hew told Business Debut.
Community
Hew said Piesanos plans to continue investing in the local community through partnerships and support for organizations and groups.
Piesanos works with Habitat for Humanity through its annual Pi Day effort, donating $3.14 back to Habitat for Humanity for every large pizza sold on Pi Day, Hew told Business Debut. He said the brand also supports little leagues, schools and first responders.
“We believe strongly that strong communities help build strong businesses,” Hew told Business Debut.
Opening Timeline
The team is targeting a late fall 2026 opening, Hew told Business Debut.
Hours
The planned hours are 11 a.m. — 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday, though Hew said the hours are subject to change closer to opening.
Follow for More
Visit the Piesanos Website, and follow their Facebook and Instagram.
Ross McWaters
