North Italia to Open First Bay Area Location
Scratch-kitchen Italian restaurant chain North Italia will open its first location in the San Francisco Bay Area on March 25th. The new restaurant will be located in Walnut Creek, bringing the fast-growing chain's fresh pasta and Italian cuisine to the East Bay.
North Italia is a brand developed by Fox Restaurant Concepts, founded by restaurateur Sam Fox in Arizona in 2002. The chain is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Cheesecake Factory, which first invested in the concept in 2016 before completing a full acquisition in 2019. The deal was part of a larger acquisition of Fox Restaurant Concepts for $308 million. Under the ownership of The Cheesecake Factory, North Italia has seen accelerated growth, expanding its national footprint to over 50 locations in early 2026. The parent company plans for continued expansion, aiming for 20% annual unit growth for the Italian eatery. For fiscal year 2025, North Italia's sales saw a significant 15.5% increase, reaching $345.9 million. The brand positions itself as an upscale, modern take on Italian dining with a neighborhood feel, emphasizing that all pasta is made from scratch daily. This focus on quality and a vibrant atmosphere has resulted in strong financial performance, with average annual sales per restaurant reaching approximately $7.7 million in fiscal 2024. The Walnut Creek restaurant, located at Plaza Escuela on South California Boulevard, joins a growing number of locations as part of the brand's strategic expansion. While this is the first location in the Bay Area, the company has been opening new restaurants in other states like North Carolina and Nebraska. The company's growth strategy also includes a significant off-premises business, which accounted for 14% of sales in the first quarter of 2024, supported by a partnership with DoorDash.
