A post shared by Project Pie PH (@projectpieph) on Dec 18, 2016 at 2:30am PST

MANILA – The US-based Project Pie first opened in Manila in 2013, allowing diners to order nine-inch customizable pizzas that they can truly call their own.

It has since expanded to a total of eight branches, both in malls and stand-alone locations.

But early this week, Project Pie made a surprising announcement – that it is closing all but one branch.

“Thank you for four great years,” read the post on the restaurant’s Facebook page. “As our last hurrah, Project Pie Block 28 in Alabang shall continue to operate and serve our guests. All other Project Pie stores shall graduate from the Philippine market.”

“Toward this end, we sincerely thank you for your patronage in making our ‘project’ success as a game-changer in the pizza industry,” it added.

Project Pie is a concept by James Markham, who is said to have pioneered the assembly line style of ordering pizza in the US.

After putting up branches in Las Vegas and San Diego, the brand opened in the Philippines in 2013 with help from the local franchise owner of another US pizza chain, Shakey’s.