Popular pizza chain to open in prime Athlone location

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Signage has been installed at the new Four Star Pizza restaurant in Athlone, marking a significant milestone ahead of the outlet's expected opening.

The business will occupy a unit which most recently served as Sakura, a Japanese noodle bar, and was also previously occupied by chains Apache Pizza and Subway.

The development follows plans first announced in 2022, when Four Star Pizza identified Athlone as one of its priority locations as part of a major nationwide expansion.

At the time, CEO Colin Hughes outlined ambitions to grow the Irish-owned pizza chain by opening 45 new stores over three years, with Athlone featuring prominently among the targeted towns.

Four Star Pizza said its expansion strategy aimed to increase its network to more than 100 stores across the island of Ireland while creating more than 900 jobs.

Hughes said in 2022 that the company's goal was for "virtually everyone in Ireland, north and south, to have access to a local Four Star Pizza outlet," describing Athlone as "a strong potential location."

The installation of the new signage indicates the long-awaited Athlone restaurant is now nearing completion, with further details on an official opening date expected in due course.