Pasta Bravo
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2012) |
| Company type | Wholly owned subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fast casual restaurant |
| Founded | Irvine, California (1988) |
| Defunct | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Aliso Viejo, California (United States) |
Number of locations | 16 |
Key people | Tim Aspel, Founder |
| Products | Pastas, gourmet pizzas, and salads |
| Parent | Yum! Brands |
| Website | PastaBravo.com |
Pasta Bravo was a fast casual restaurant of Irvine, California. At its height, Pasta Bravo operated 16 restaurants throughout the Orange and San Diego counties.
History
Pasta Bravo was founded by Tim Aspel in 1988, at The Crossroads Center in Irvine. Some of the meals were Meat Lasagna and Chicken Parmigiana in addition to more contemporary offerings such as Chicken Basil Cream and Greek-Style Shrimp and Arugula. Pasta Bravo soon gained popularity and expanded to a total of 16 restaurants in Orange and San Diego counties.
In August 2002, Pasta Bravo and Yum! Brands agreed to test co-branded Bravo/Pizza Hut restaurants.[1] In 2003 Yum! acquired the Pasta Bravo concept from Pasta Bravo, Inc. for $5 million, intending to pair it with Pizza Hut.[2] The first freestanding Pizza Hut/PastaBravo was opened in Clarksville, Tennessee by franchisee Carreca Enterprises Inc.[3]
By the end of 2011, the last of the chain's three restaurants had closed, including the original location at The Crossroads Center.[4] Aspel said of his chain's closing, "The future wasn't in what I was doing anymore. Over the years, people's tastes ha[d] gone from carbs to proteins."[5] Aspel switched from pasta to a grilled seafood concept with locations of Spike's Fish House.[6]
References
- ^ "Pizza Hut, Pasta Bravo Test Co-Branding". Entrepreneur. Nation's Restaurant News. August 6, 2002. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ^ "Yum buys Pasta Bravo rights for P. Hut pairings". Nation's Restaurant News. 2003.
- ^ "First ground-up Pizza Hut/Pasta Bravo combo opens in Tennessee". Pizza Marketplace. CLARKSVILLE, Tenn.: Networld Media Group. December 9, 2003. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ^ "Closures: Chevy's, La Salsa, Pasta Bravo". Retrieved 2011-12-26.
- ^ Luna, Nancy. Dining Sea Change. Orange County Register (California) 13 January 2012.
- ^ Luppi, Kathleen. New fish chain Spike's offers fresh, filling meals. The Orange County Register, 3 March 2012.