Scooters Pizza Is Making A Big Comeback In Joburg After Ten Years

For many South Africans, Scooters Pizza was the Friday night treat you ordered when no one felt like cooking. Then it disappeared. Quietly at first, then completely. A decade later, the iconic brand is rolling back into the local food scene, and this time, it is picking up right where it left off.

A brand new Scooters Pizza store is opening in Rosebank in February 2026, marking the company’s official return to Johannesburg. Set at Park Corner on the corner of Jan Smuts and Bolton Road, it is a location that already fits the Joburg mood: busy, urban and full of food lovers who enjoy a little nostalgia mixed with convenience.

A Comeback Years In The Making

Scooters Pizza’s story has always been a uniquely South African tale. Born in 2000 when the Gonzaga family de-franchised three KZN stores and reimagined them under a new brand, Scooters grew rapidly. By 2003, the chain had spread to Johannesburg and the Western Cape. By 2010, it boasted more than 100 outlets and became one of the country’s fastest-growing franchises.

Its next chapter was more complicated. In 2014, Taste Holdings acquired the rights to roll out Domino’s in Southern Africa and encouraged Scooters and St Elmo’s owners to convert. With more than 160 combined outlets between the two brands, the shift seemed like a natural evolution. But South Africans never fully warmed up to Domino’s, and by 2020, the entire business had collapsed, leaving dozens of stores shuttered.

Just like that, Scooters Pizza was gone.

The Man Behind The Revival

What many people do not know is that the comeback comes from someone who helped build the brand in the first place. Franchise veteran Juan Engelbrecht, a seasoned entrepreneur with more than forty years in the industry, relaunched Scooters Pizza in 2025 after recognising something many executives had missed. People still wanted Scooters. They remembered the taste, the brand identity and the promise of pizzas delivered fast.

Engelbrecht played a major role in the early 2000s expansion, opening the first four Gauteng stores. His track record since then has been impressive, having helped build or launch over 20 brands including Jimmy’s Killer Prawns and Wiesenhof Coffees.

The revival began in Melville in October 2025, where the first rebranded store opened its doors and reintroduced the classic 39-minute delivery promise that once made Scooters famous.

Why This Comeback Matters

South Africa’s fast-food space has changed dramatically in the past decade. Competition is tougher, delivery apps dominate the landscape and consumers love brands with a story. Scooters fits right back into that ecosystem with a blend of nostalgia and updated identity.

The company is sticking to the franchising model that defined its early success, with opportunities already open for new franchisees. The menu and promotions have been refreshed, but the operational philosophy remains the same. Fast, accessible, locally grounded.

What To Expect From The New Rosebank Store

The Rosebank location will be one of the first flagship stores of the revived brand. It joins the Melville branch as part of a rollout guided by rising consumer demand. Expect the usual quick delivery promise, competitive specials and a familiar Scooters feel with a modern update.

For Joburgers who grew up with Scooters Pizza, this is more than just a reopening. It marks the return of a brand that once helped define local fast-food culture. And judging by the momentum, the comeback is only just beginning.

{Source:Business Tech}

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