Little Caesars in downtown Saline closes after dispute between franchisee, company
The Little Caesars franchise in downtown Saline closed — apparently temporarily — last week.
The franchise, located at 100 S. Ann Arbor St., shut down with little explanation at some point last week. Calls to the business ring without stopping — and the name of the franchisee who operated the business could not be determined.
Soda was still stocked in the store's refrigerator, and all the equipment was still there, but the doors were locked during normal business hours.
"We plan to be serving our customers in the Saline area again in the future," Kathryn Oldham, director of communications for Detroit-based Little Caesar Enterprises Inc., told AnnArbor.com in an email. "Meanwhile, we are working through some issues with the franchisee."
Oldham did not respond to questions about the dispute between the corporation and the franchisee.
The franchise's closure comes amid increasing competition for pizza sellers in Saline:
- A new family restaurant called Mangiamo Italian Grill opened earlier this year just around the corner in the Michigan Avenue space formerly occupied by the Saline Cafe and Kelly's.
- An entrepreneur renovated and revitalized the Benito's Pizza franchise on Michigan Avenue east of downtown.
Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.
Comments
pizza
Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 3:38 a.m.
Nathan ... you forgot about the best pizza place in Saline... open now for two years... Rich's CountrySide Pizza... I heard they will challenge any pizza place in town... with the rule the loser leaves Saline. Rich's CountrySide Pizza has 7 first place awards... Best Pizza at the pizza expo... took second place with his take n bake frozen pizza in the Toledo pizza challenge against every ones fresh made pizza... this pizza is amazing...
NewStart
Sun, Oct 16, 2011 : 11:41 p.m.
I was there a couple weeks ago for a Hot and Ready as I was busy and in a hurry. I turned around and walked out when I found out there were none ready and was told they were working on a large order and, "Have a nice day". Not up for the task?....don't advertize Hot and Ready, which I have had little problem with at other Little Caesars locations.....a large order should include a few Hot and Readies as stand-bys.
Tom Joad
Sun, Oct 16, 2011 : 6:22 a.m.
If you can call Little Caesars pizza.
Buster W.
Sun, Oct 16, 2011 : 1:03 a.m.
We stopped by Little Caesar's a few weeks ago and ordered a Hot 'N Ready. It was a 15-20 minute wait and the entire place looks very dated and dirty. Jet's wasn't mentioned at the end of the article with the others...that place has been extremely busy the last few times I've been there.
the leprachaun
Sat, Oct 15, 2011 : 11:15 p.m.
Maybe because all other hot n ready at other stores are $5.55 and saline was only $5. They used to always had Hot n Readys now you have to wait 15min on not busy days.
stonecutter1
Sun, Oct 16, 2011 : 6:54 a.m.
Me fail English? Thats unpossible!
Mark Salke
Sat, Oct 15, 2011 : 10:46 p.m.
I went to that Little Caesars's once. They said my Hot & Ready Pizza would be Hot & Ready in 15 minutes. Fail.
casmom
Sun, Oct 16, 2011 : 5:38 p.m.
everytime!
Mom in Town
Sat, Oct 15, 2011 : 8:20 p.m.
any truth to the rumor that they were shut down because of health code violations?
DBH
Sat, Oct 15, 2011 : 9:14 p.m.
I wouldn't know for sure. At their last inspection on 9/14/11 they had 5 critical, and 14 noncritical, violations. Other restaurants have been allowed to operate by the Health Department with worse inspections. Perhaps they were closed by the corporate office. They have had multiple violations dating back to a year or more, though the most recent one appears to have been the worst. I know I would never want to eat there.
Fat Bill
Sat, Oct 15, 2011 : 8:12 p.m.
And the Domino's didn't miss a beat, immediately started selling hot and ready pepperoni and cheese pizzas for carry-out. No crying in business...
WeThePeople
Sun, Oct 16, 2011 : 12:10 a.m.
No suprise, I don't think people want old pizza's that have been ready for who knows how long...You know what your getting when you go to Little Caesars or Dominos, cheap pizza's real quick. Places like Mangiamo's, Jet's & Benito's are well worth the price and the wait if you want good pizza.