They plan to more than double the local operation by selling at least a dozen more franchises. In addition, they plan to build 50 restaurants in Arizona, 195 in California and 22 in Tennessee.

At Nick-N-Willy's, they sell large, gourmet pizzas that buyers take home and pop in the oven. It's newest prototype store is at 9362 S. Colorado Blvd. that features a black and chrome interior.

The firm was founded in 1989 in Boulder and one of the first in Denver was opened about a decade ago in the Promenade in North Cherry Creek.

''I took a real gamble with Nick-N-Willy's, '' Don Oberndorf, co-owner of the Promenade, tells GlobeSt.com. ''They were these young guys with only the one store in Boulder. It's proven to be a great concept and a great tenant.''

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