Kevin Durant-backed bankrupt pizza chain shutters yet another California location

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A once-hot California pizza chain is getting cooked.

Pieology Pizzeria, the build-your-own pizza empire backed by NBA superstar Kevin Durant that once boasted roughly 150 restaurants nationwide, has been reduced to a shell of its former self.

After a years-long closing spree and bankruptcy filing, just 27 Pieology locations remain, according to The Street. The latest victim is a decade-old outpost in Folsom, a suburb of Sacramento, where the popular pizza joint quietly closed earlier this month.

The restaurant, located inside the Folsom Gateway shopping plaza, had been slinging customizable pies and calzones since 2016. But the franchisee apparently decided it was time to call it quits. Kelly Rule, senior vice president of leasing at landlord Pappas Investments, told the Sacramento Bee that the restaurant operator opted not to renew its lease.

The replacement restaurant is reportedly already being lined up for the now vacant space, although the potential new tenant’s identity remains under wraps.

Founded in Fullerton, California, in 2011, Pieology built its reputation on an assembly-line concept that allowed customers to pile their favorite toppings onto individually crafted pizzas. The chain also offered alternatives such as cauliflower and gluten-free crusts, appealing to customers looking for a more personalized experience. The buzz was loud enough to lure serious star power and deep pockets: Panda Express founders Andrew and Peggy Cherng and NBA star Kevin Durant.

Sales ultimately soured though, with dozens of stores closing over the following years. By late 2025, its parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Folsom isn’t the only Sacramento-area community to lose its Pieology. The chain has also shuttered restaurants in Rancho Cordova, downtown Sacramento and Roseville in recent years. For loyal fans still craving their custom pies, two nearby locations remain in Sacramento County: one in the Meadowview neighborhood and another in Elk Grove.

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