Riko’s Pizza Expands to Carolina Beach With Full-Service Restaurant and Bar
CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. – Popular tavern-style pizza chain Riko’s Pizza is bringing its signature bar pies to North Carolina with the opening of a new full-service restaurant and bar at Carolina Beach later this year.
A New Coastal Dining Destination
The 5,000-square-foot venue is nearing the end of construction and is expected to open in autumn 2025. It will be located inside the Proximity Complex, placing it near a mix of residential neighborhoods, businesses, and tourist hubs.
The Carolina Beach location will feature indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a dedicated area for takeout and delivery customers. The new restaurant is designed to serve both locals and visitors looking for a coastal dining experience.
Menu and Atmosphere
Riko’s Pizza will offer its well-known bar pies along with customizable pizzas, fresh salads (available in bowls, wraps, or as toppings), oven-roasted wings, shareable appetizers, and desserts.
The centerpiece of the restaurant will be a 35-foot bar with 30 stools and large TVs, serving 12 beers on tap, a curated wine selection, and a variety of craft cocktails to pair with the food menu.
CEO: “The Perfect Place to Plant Our Flag”
Company founder and CEO Rico Imbrogno praised the Carolina Beach community for its support ahead of the opening.
“We are so thankful for the warm welcome we have already received from this electric, close-knit, coastal gem,” Imbrogno said. “There is something special about this town — the energy, the people, the mix of locals and visitors — that makes it the perfect place to plant our flag in the great state of North Carolina. We cannot wait to fire up the ovens, serve up our famous bar pies, and create a space where friends and families can come together.”
Riko’s Pizza Growth Strategy
Since launching in 2011, Riko’s has grown steadily with four corporate-owned and five franchise-owned outlets across Connecticut, New York, and Florida. In 2024, the company added its 11th store in Westport, Connecticut.
The brand has plans for further expansion along the East Coast, with Carolina Beach marking its entry into North Carolina’s competitive pizza scene.
Would you like to see more East Coast chains like Riko’s Pizza expand into Carolina beach towns, or do you prefer supporting local independent restaurants? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
