Papa Johns has completed the sale of 28 company-owned restaurants in the Orlando area to longtime franchisee Wade Oney, whose portfolio now tops 120 locations across Central and South Florida. The restaurants are now operated under two of Oney's franchise entities, PZZA Group, LLC and Magic City Pizzerias, LLC.
The move is part of Papa Johns' broader strategy to shift corporate-owned stores into the hands of established franchise partners — a process known as refranchising. For the company, it means trading direct operating responsibility for steadier royalty and fee income, while leaning on proven operators to run day-to-day business.
Oney is about as seasoned as franchisees come. He got his start in the pizza business in 1981 and spent six years as Papa Johns' Chief Operations Officer, during which time the chain grew to more than 2,000 locations. He has been named Franchisee of the Year by Papa Johns multiple times, earned a spot in the brand's Hall of Fame, and earlier in 2026 received the Spirit of Franchising MVP Award from Multi-Unit Franchisee magazine. His organization also opened 10 new Papa Johns restaurants across Central and South Florida in 2025.
Oney said he looks forward to serving more customers in Central Florida and pointed to the brand's support for franchisee growth as a key reason for his long tenure with the company, which now spans 35 years.
This announcement was made by Papa John's International, Inc. (Nasdaq: PZZA).
