Godfather's Pizza
Encyclopedia
Godfather's Pizza is a privately owned restaurant
chain headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska
that operates fast casual Italian
franchises
.
, in 1973. In the early 1970s, William Theisen
owned a beer parlor named Wild Willie's, next to a pizza restaurant named Godfather at 84th and L Street
in western Omaha. Theisen bought out the pizza parlor and the name in 1974 and sold his first franchise. Theisen sold the company to Pillsbury in the mid-1980s and stepped down from actively managing the company. In 1986, Pillsbury named Herman Cain
CEO and President of the brand. Cain and Ronald B. Gartlan, the pizza's executive vice president, led a group to purchase the Godfather's brand from Pillsbury, which they did by the beginning of 1990 in a deal reported to be $100 million. It was reported to be the fifth largest pizza chain in the United States at the time. Cain stepped down from his position as CEO and President in 2002 and Gartlan became CEO. In 2009 Gartlan bought out Cain. According to the company's official website, as of June 14, 2011, the chain has 622 locations in 39 U.S. states.
s, breadsticks, cookies, and pastas, and have an expansive salad bar
and buffet
. They offer four different types of crust: Original, Golden, Mozza-Loaded, and Thin. The chain has recently introduced gluten
-free pizzas, made from rice flour
.
's character, Don Vito Corleone
, from the 1972 film The Godfather
. "The Godfather" has been played by two actors, the first being Omaha actor J. William Koll, who typically wore a white fedora hat, a pin stripe suit, and a flower on his jacket. He also used the sayings "A pizza you can't refuse!", "Do it!", "If you don't like anchovies, you'll be sleeping with the fishes", "Da goods is in da box!" and "I know your neighborhood."
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
chain headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
that operates fast casual Italian
Italian cuisine
Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BCE. Italian cuisine in itself takes heavy influences, including Etruscan, ancient Greek, ancient Roman, Byzantine, Jewish and Arab cuisines...
franchises
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
.
History
Godfather's was founded in Omaha, NebraskaOmaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, in 1973. In the early 1970s, William Theisen
William Theisen
William "Willy" Theisen is a restaurant entrepreneur from Omaha, Nebraska, born in Clinton, Iowa. He was the founder and former owner of Godfathers Pizza, a popular pizzeria chain that has locations in over 40 states...
owned a beer parlor named Wild Willie's, next to a pizza restaurant named Godfather at 84th and L Street
U.S. Route 275
U.S. Route 275 is a north–south United States highway. It is a branch of US 75, originally terminating at that route in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The highway's northern terminus is in O'Neill, Nebraska, at an intersection with U.S. Highway 20 and U.S. Highway 281. Its southern terminus is near...
in western Omaha. Theisen bought out the pizza parlor and the name in 1974 and sold his first franchise. Theisen sold the company to Pillsbury in the mid-1980s and stepped down from actively managing the company. In 1986, Pillsbury named Herman Cain
Herman Cain
Herman Cain is a candidate for the 2012 U.S. Republican Party presidential nomination.Cain has a background as a business executive, syndicated columnist, and radio host from Georgia. He served as chairman and CEO of Godfather's Pizza from 1986 to 1996...
CEO and President of the brand. Cain and Ronald B. Gartlan, the pizza's executive vice president, led a group to purchase the Godfather's brand from Pillsbury, which they did by the beginning of 1990 in a deal reported to be $100 million. It was reported to be the fifth largest pizza chain in the United States at the time. Cain stepped down from his position as CEO and President in 2002 and Gartlan became CEO. In 2009 Gartlan bought out Cain. According to the company's official website, as of June 14, 2011, the chain has 622 locations in 39 U.S. states.
Menu
The restaurants serve a wide variety of pizzaPizza
Pizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
s, breadsticks, cookies, and pastas, and have an expansive salad bar
Salad bar
A salad bar is a buffet-style table or counter at a restaurant or food market on which salad components are provided for customers to assemble their own salad plates...
and buffet
Buffet
A buffet is a system of serving meals in which food is placed in a public area where the diners generally serve themselves. Buffets are offered at various places including hotels and many social events...
. They offer four different types of crust: Original, Golden, Mozza-Loaded, and Thin. The chain has recently introduced gluten
Gluten
Gluten is a protein composite found in foods processed from wheat and related grain species, including barley and rye...
-free pizzas, made from rice flour
Rice flour
Rice flour is a form of flour made from finely milled rice. It is distinct from rice starch, which is usually produced by steeping rice in lye....
.
Spokesman
Godfather's Pizza is also known for its commercials featuring "The Godfather", a knock-off of Marlon BrandoMarlon Brando
Marlon Brando, Jr. was an American movie star and political activist. "Unchallenged as the most important actor in modern American Cinema" according to the St...
's character, Don Vito Corleone
Vito Corleone
Vito Andolini Corleone is a fictional character and the main character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather, as well as Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather trilogy, where he was portrayed by Marlon Brando in The Godfather and by Robert De Niro in The Godfather Part II. Premiere Magazine listed Vito...
, from the 1972 film The Godfather
The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
. "The Godfather" has been played by two actors, the first being Omaha actor J. William Koll, who typically wore a white fedora hat, a pin stripe suit, and a flower on his jacket. He also used the sayings "A pizza you can't refuse!", "Do it!", "If you don't like anchovies, you'll be sleeping with the fishes", "Da goods is in da box!" and "I know your neighborhood."