Hawk's pizzeria franchise, Piccolo Buco, prepares to expand its pizza-focused business.
Cooper's Hawk Expands Pizza-Focused Restaurant Concept, Piccolo Buco
Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants is expanding its pizza-focused restaurant concept, Piccolo Buco, with plans to open multiple new locations in 2025. The company is set to open its second Piccolo Buco in Naperville, Illinois, in August, followed by a third location in Tampa, Florida, in October. Additionally, leases have been signed for four more locations beyond these openings.
The new Piccolo Buco sites will feature a slightly more rustic design compared to the original Oak Brook flagship, with amenities like a wine-tasting bar to engage Cooper’s Hawk wine club members where possible. This expansion is part of Cooper’s Hawk’s broader growth strategy as it raises significant capital and prepares for a potential IPO.
The Piccolo Buco concept is seen as a complementary brand to Cooper’s Hawk’s established portfolio of over 55 winery-restaurant locations. The addition of Piccolo Buco technically makes Cooper's Hawk a multiconcept operator. About 40% of Piccolo’s customers are wine club members, similar to the ratio at Cooper’s Hawk.
The expansion plans reflect a careful, sustained approach to scaling the Piccolo Buco pizza concept while leveraging Cooper’s Hawk’s existing strengths and customer base. The first Piccolo Buco was strategically placed between two Cooper’s Hawk restaurants, which would not have supported a third Cooper’s Hawk but can sustain Piccolo Buco. The Oak Brook location has demonstrated success with consistent 10%-15% annual sales growth since opening four years ago, which supports confidence in replication elsewhere.
Cooper's Hawk CEO and founder, Tim McEnery, was impressed by the pizza at Piccolo Buco in Rome. McEnery hints at potential for more restaurant concepts for Cooper’s Hawk in the future. The pizza at Piccolo Buco, widely considered among the best in Italy, remains true to the original. Servers at Piccolo Buco slice the pizza tableside with scissors to preserve the integrity of the delicate crust.
The Chicago location of Piccolo Buco offers a wider menu, including appetizers, pasta, and other entrees, as well as Cooper's Hawk's signature wine. Wine club members can use benefits such as loyalty points and discounts at Piccolo Buco and can pick up their wine of the month there. The Naperville Piccolo Buco outlet will have a small wine-tasting bar for events.
The handshake deal to bring Piccolo Buco to the U.S. was made by McEnery and Issa, the owner of Piccolo Buco. Initially, Issa balked at the idea due to costs and infrastructure, but the success of the Oak Brook location has proven the concept's potential in the U.S. Cooper's Hawk believes that Piccolo’s success can translate to other locations.
In summary, Cooper's Hawk plans to open a 2nd Piccolo Buco in Naperville, IL, and a 3rd in Tampa, FL, in August and October 2025, respectively. Four more locations have been leased, and the company envisions long-term growth potential for Piccolo Buco up to about 100 units in the U.S., but plans to grow at a measured pace. The new locations will be slightly more rustic than the Oak Brook flagship, with wine-tasting elements to appeal to Cooper’s Hawk’s wine club membership.
- Cooper's Hawk, with its expanding pizza-focused restaurant concept Piccolo Buco, is not only venturing into the small-business sector of food-and-drink but also strategically diversifying its overall business portfolio.
- The entrepreneurial spirit of Cooper's Hawk CEO and founder, Tim McEnery, is evident as he seeks to invest in new concepts, inspired by a remarkable pizza experience in Rome, for the multiconcept operator.
- With plans to open more locations for Piccolo Buco, Cooper's Hawk will further engage its wine club members, offering unique experiences with global cuisines, such as wine-tasting events at select outlets.
- Piccolo Buco's success in the United States stems from its strategic positioning between Cooper’s Hawk restaurants and its ability to cater to a broad customer base, ranging from wine enthusiasts to food lovers seeking a taste of real-estate Cuisines.
- Cooper's Hawk's growth strategy, which includes the expansion of Piccolo Buco, requires significant investing and preparation towards a potential Initial Public Offering (IPO), reflecting the company's ambition to establish a global presence in the finance sector.
