Fazoli’s/Twitter

Fazoli’s Twitter bio on March 24, 2022.

Italian chain Fazoli's has long boasted it has more than 200 restaurant locations in the United States — but, according to its Twitter bio, “none in Arizona."

That's about to change.

The Kentucky-based company said it’s coming back to the state in 2022. Fazoli's announced on Twitter on Thursday its plan to open nine locations. The first fast-casual restaurant is scheduled to open later this year.

Fazoli's then-CEO Carl Howard told the Phoenix Business Journal in 2015 the chain left Arizona in 2008 because it was "failing miserably and underperforming."

According to a press release, Fazoli's partnering with Kind Hospitality President and CEO Nava Singam. Singam has franchises including Panera Bread, Macayo’s Mexican Food, Virtu Honest Craft, O.H.S.O. Brewery, Barrio Brewing Co. and Copper Plate an American Grill.

“We’re so excited to be bringing Fazoli’s back to Phoenix and proud to partner with a talented multi-unit operator like Nava,” Fazoli’s President Doug Bostick said in a statement. “Over the years, we’ve regularly received hundreds of requests to bring Fazoli’s back to the Phoenix area, so we can’t wait to return to this market. We’re kicking off our growth with Kind Hospitality in a significant way, and this is only the beginning.”

Tim Agne/KJZZ

A Fazoli’s restaurant in southern Illinois.

A spokesperson for Fazoli's told KJZZ News on Wednesday the company is currently in the process of selecting the site of the first location — and that an update to its Twitter profile is coming soon.

"Our Arizona followers on social media have made their love of the brand and our famous breadsticks well known and we couldn't wait to share the news," Cami Studebaker said in an email. "Now that it’s official, we look forward to refreshing our bio and delighting more fans across the U.S. as we continue our momentous expansion efforts."