Ah-Beetz pizza brand, known for their New Haven style pizza, expanded in late 2025 announcing their first franchise location, in Marietta, Georgia. The location was opened by three long-time friends and pizza enthusiasts, Brett Benik, Jason Doherty and Emanuele Cardaci. These entrepreneurs’ love for pizza and business — led them to bring the concept of Ah-Beetz New Haven Pizza — to the suburbs of Atlanta.
The Ah-Beetz mission is to deliver the soulful, charred, and authentic “Apizza” culture of New Haven, Connecticut, to neighborhoods across America. Ah-Beetz New Haven Pizza was born from the childhood memories of founder Nicholas Laudano. Growing up in the “Pizza Capital of the World,” Laudano spent his youth in the legendary kitchens of New Haven’s “Big Three” pizzerias, Sally’s, Pepe’s and Modern. This is where he learned the “alchemy” of making New Haven style pizza and the specific Neapolitan dialect that turned “a pizza” into “Ah-Beetz!”
Every Ah-Beetz pie features the signature thin, crispy-yet-chewy crust with distinct “char”-the dark, smoky bubbles that provide character and flavor when mixed in with the other high quality ingredients, baked in special high temperature 800-degree ovens. From the iconic White Clam Pie (clams, garlic and olive oil), the “Classic Mootz” signature cheese pizza (mozzarella, family recipe sauce, pecorino romano cheese), to the Margherita Pie (fresh mozzarella, pecorino romano, tomato sauce, basil and oregano). New Haven pizza is referred to as some of the best pizza in the world. This is also highlighted and expressed by pizza icon critic David Portnoy.
After successfully opening three Florida Ah-Beetz restaurant and pizza shop locations (West Palm, Royal Palm, and Delray Beach), they launched its national franchise program in 2025.
The company just launched their second franchise location in Port St. Lucie Florida as well, on January 6, 2026.
Food & Beverage Magazine spoke to Ah-Beetz Marietta, Georgia franchise operator and entrepreneur Emanuele Cardaci —
F&B: What is special about Ah-Beetz?
Cardaci: Ah-Beetz throws their hat into the ring with iconic New Haven Pizza brands, and makes it their own, with an incredible menu of pizza flavor offerings, and a unique, delicious taste. The franchise model allows us to bring it to a national level with consistency and quality.
F&B: What makes new haven style pizza so unique?
Cardaci: Its uniqueness comes from the heritage and culture of the product, the distinct dough making process, and high quality ingredients. The char adds a slight bitterness and crunch, and the top of the dough provides a nice chewy texture that mixes in beautifully with the tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. It’s never too heavily sauced or cheesed, which doesn’t leave you feeling overly full.
F&B: Why did you get involved in the pizza business?
Cardaci: I got involved based on my interest in finding a business model where I could love the product, be recession proof, provide value to the customer, and because I happen to be a pizza snob. Growing up as an Italian in the Northeast, with an Italian-born family, it was an inevitable path.
F&B: Tell us about the new Georgia location, why did you open there?
Cardaci: We decided on Marietta, GA because at the time, my partner BJ had a lake house in Gainesville, Georgia, and we had been visiting the area quite a bit over a span of a few years’ time. When we came across the Ah-Beetz franchise opportunity, we immediately knew it was a great idea to bring a whole new food concept to the area – as there was nothing similar in the suburbs of Atlanta, especially in an area where we felt that good food options were sparse.
F&B: Tell us about your background in the restaurant business/pizza
Cardaci: The three partners have a combined experience with several years working in restaurants as servers, running several successful businesses, understanding and appreciating good restaurant service and high quality food, and an equal obsession with good pizza. My partners are Polish and Irish, and I grew up in an off-the-boat Italian household where food was a religion. We all bring that passion for good food and service to running our Ah-Beetz location.
F&B: What are the most popular favorites/best selling dishes and pizza signature styles?
Cardaci: The most popular pizzas sold are the traditional Mootz and Mootz with pepperoni, with our Margherita and Garlic Basil styles close in popularity. Our best selling non-pizza dishes are our Caesar salad with chicken, Meatball Parm sideplate, Garlic Butter Breadsticks, and Wings offerings, especially the Oven-Baked Thai Chile Wings.
F&B: What does the Ah Beetz brand represent?
Cardaci: The brand represents a dedication to authentic New Haven pizza and culture, illustrated by good service, high quality ingredients, and great value to customers that have never had it nor experienced it. It also offers nostalgia and a homecoming to people that moved away from it.
The franchise model will continue to expand the culture and experience of New Haven pizza, proving that while you can take the maker out of New Haven, you can’t take New Haven out of the pizza.
The new Ah-Beetz in Georgia is located at 125 Ernest Barrett Pkwy, Marietta GA.
Follow on social at @ahbeetzpizza.northgeorgia and visit online at www.ah-beetz.com
