Get ready for MOD Pizza

Franchises want slice of the South Florida market.

FORT LAUDERDALE — Three MOD Pizza franchises will be opened in South Florida this year, including Parkland, Coral Springs and Kendall, BBX Capital said Monday.

MOD is known for its individually made or artisan-style pizzas. The brand was developed by the founders of Seattle Coffee Co.

BBX, a Fort Lauderdale-based diversified real estate and timeshare company, holds the Florida MOD franchise rights. The company said it intends to open 10 to 12 stores in Florida during 2018.

The first MOD Pizza in South Florida is scheduled in late September at 7171 N. State Road 7 at the Shoppes of Parkland. The 2,400-square-foot store will feature a large outdoor patio, the company said.

In the fall, MOD Pizza is scheduled to open at The Walk, 2702 N. University Dr. in Coral Springs. In the winter, a store is planned at The Palms at Town & Country, 8268 Mills Dr. in Kendall. A store in Jacksonville is planned for the fall.

MOD Pizza currently is hiring 25 to 30 workers for each store and hold job fairs in each location, said Brick Kerge, vice president of operations for MOD Pizza operations in Florida .

BBX’s goal is to develop up to 60 MOD Pizza locations in Florida over the next five to seven years, the company said.

The pizza brand already has more than 200 locations in the United States and United Kingdom. BBX Capital is publicly held company whose stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The company has assets of about $1.4 billion that include real estate, timeshare company Blugreen Corp. of Boca Raton, and Hoffman’s Chocolate. BBX recently acquired It’Sugar, a candy retail chain developed in South Florida.

PHOTOS COURTESY BBX CAPITAL The first South Florida MOD Pizza franchise is scheduled to open in late September at the Shoppes of Parkland.

MOD Pizza is planning to hire 25 to 30 workers at each store it is opening in Parkland, Coral Springs and Kendall. Job fairs will be held at each location.