New Fresno Pizza Factory owner’s journey from corrections to pizza

Foothill-borne chain restaurant Pizza Factory welcomed its newest franchisees in Fresno, Francisco and Lorraine Padilla.

Francisco, formerly a state correctional officer in Hanford, brings management experience and enthusiasm to his new role.

“I’ve always wanted to be the owner of a business that I can watch grow and become prosperous,” said Francisco. “ And I love Pizza Factory. It’s my favorite pizza.”

Transitioning from a three-decade career in corrections, Padilla researched Pizza Factory’s franchise success rate and decided to pursue ownership . Following negotiations with the company, he completed the necessary vetting and training. The store is located at 7081 N. Marks Ave., Suite 101.

“I use my knowledge of being a correctional officer because I supervised thousands of people at different times in 30 years. So I know how to manage people,” Francisco said. “I know how to do their documentation, paperwork training and all the food service training.”

Francisco said what sets Pizza Factory apart from other restaurants are the fresh ingredients prepared in-house. Pizza Factory offers more value to their customers, like 80 pepperonis on any large pizza, Francisco said.

He said inflation is the challenge at the moment, with fewer people spending money on eating out. Birthday party coupons have been a popular way to attract new customers, he said. Family support has been crucial in navigating the current economy.

“My wife was right in the mix with me, and she is probably the most motivated person I know,” Francisco said about Lorraine. “Even though she still works full time, she comes in and helps when she can.”

He said Pizza Factory has special memories for his family because they always stopped there when visiting Three Rivers. Padilla went as a young adult with his firstborn child, and when they tasted it, he and his family fell in love with Pizza Factory.

“The cheesy pull-out was really thick, and the crust was just amazing,” he said. “We always made it a memorable trip up to Three Rivers just to go to Pizza Factory.”

Danny Wheeler and his wife Carol founded Pizza Factory in 1979 in Oakhurst. They later expanded and franchised Pizza Factory in 1986, and today, they have 115 restaurants in six states. Padilla hopes to keep the owners’ ideals and expand even more in Fresno.

“I would like everybody to try the Pizza Factory one time,“ he said, “and I guarantee you that you will come back.”