Papa Murphy's scouting region for four locations

Papa Murphy's International, the take-and-bake pizza chain, said last week it hopes to develop four new franchised locations in northern Nevada and South Lake Tahoe.

The company headquartered at Vancouver, Wash., is looking to develop stores in Winnemucca, Fernley, Fallon and South Lake Tahoe, said Jim Werling, director of franchise sales.

The company's franchisees currently operate 10 stores in northern Nevada.

"They're all doing well," Werling said, adding that the company believes that a growing population will support more locations.

Northern Nevada is one of 17 markets targeted for expansion by the pizza company.

Papa Murphy's International has given its existing franchise owners first call on the northern Nevada locations, and they have until Feb. 7 to respond. After that, Werling said, franchises for the locations will be sold to new owners.

The company says owners must be full-time owners and operators who work at the store they own. Papa Murphy's estimates the cost of opening a store at between $210,000 and $300,000.

Werling said the stores typically lease about 1,200 square feet in neighborhood centers anchored with grocery stores, liquor stores or similar high-traffic retailers.

With 1,067 stores in 30 states, Papa Murphy's has the fifth largest number of locations among the nation's pizza chains.