24/7 gourmet pizza vending machine coming soon to location near University of Michigan - mlive.com

2022-06-03 22:02:08 By : Ms. Zhu feng

PizzaForno, a pizza vending machine, will soon be coming to Ann ArborJordyn Pair | jpair@mlive.com

ANN ARBOR, MI -- Move over water bottles and pop, vending machines are now dispensing hot pizza.

PizzaForno, an automated pizza vending machine, will soon open on South University Avenue in Ann Arbor, near the University of Michigan campus. The company originated in Canada and was brought to the United States earlier this year with three Jackson locations.

Related: Gourmet pizza vending machines coming to Jackson

The Ann Arbor location at 1210 South University Ave., between Starbucks and Pancheros Mexican Grill, will serve 11 varieties of pizza, including pepperoni, Hawaiian, BBQ chicken and vegetarian honey and goat cheese.

The pizzas are prepared off-site and loaded into the machine. Customers then use a touchscreen to order one of the 12-inch pizzas, which are cooked in the machine and dispensed in its box, a process which takes around three minutes.

Pizzas cost between $9.99 and $13, and the machine will be open around the clock. The vending machine is being installed soon and the location hopes to be open by the end of year, said Owner Timothy Ekpo, who, with business partner Adam Page also own the Jackson locations that opened in March.

“We’re trying to coordinate around the students being here,” he said.

Proximity to the University of Michigan inspired the location, Ekpo said.

“We know having a 24-hour option was critical for us as students ,” Ekpo said.

University of Michigan sophomore Rilie Saba said she anticipates the machine, which is near The Brown Jug and Good Time Charley’s, will be popular among the college crowd.

“Oh, for sure, if people are drinking,” Saba said.

UM senior Gloria Stach said the machine will be a good option for when local pizzerias, such as Joe’s NYC Pizza down the street from the machine, have long lines.

“I feel like you would use it for convenience,” Stach said.

Brown Jug manager Bobby Bennett said the bar and restaurant isn’t really worried about this new-style pizzeria.

“I have yet to hear anyone be worried or concerned about it,” Bennett said, adding restaurants that prepare their pizza fresh may have an edge on PizzaForno.

Ekpo, who first tried PizzaForno in Toronto, said he wouldn’t have brought the company to the U.S. if the quality had not been good.

“You got to try it,” he said. “These are fresh, handmade pizza that are placed into our vending machines. It tastes amazing.”

Ekpo has plans to put up to 10 additional PizzaForno machines throughout Ann Arbor, he said.

“Everyone who tries it is really going to love it,” he said.

Another PizzaForno location also is opening in Tecumseh on Monday, Dec. 20.

Read more from The Ann Arbor News:

Eastern Michigan University fraternity settles with 8 women in sex assault case

Detroit mayor says Census Bureau ‘intentionally’ undercounted population of majority-Black city

Strong storm recap: Michigan’s highest gusts, tornadoes and heavy snowfall

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 5/1/2021).

© 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.

Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.