Family Pizzeria Celebrates Anniversary

By: LaRosa's Pizzeria | 0 Shares 355 Reads

March 26, 2024 // Franchising.com // CINCINNATI, OHIO - It’s hard to imagine that when Donald “Buddy” LaRosa opened his first pizzeria 70 years ago this week - among the very first in Cincinnati - most of his potential guests didn’t even know what pizza was. But Buddy had seen the popularity of the pizza and hoagy shops in the Italian section of South Philadelphia during the time he was stationed there while in the U.S. Navy.

Then, back home in South Fairmont-Cincinnati’s “Little Italy”- in the summer of 1953, Buddy helped his mother and aunt sell pizza at the San Antonio church festival. While pizza was familiar in his Italian-American home, it was still new to most of his German-American neighbors. But the pizza was a tremendous hit, inspiring Buddy to scrape together $400 for a down payment on a pizza oven and open his first pizzeria March 24, 1954, on Boudinot Avenue in Westwood.

In the beginning, Buddy had three partners - Richard "Muzzie" Minella, Mike Soldano, and Frank "Head" Serraino - and the restaurant was originally called Papa Gino's. The name eventually changed to LaRosa's when Buddy became the sole owner.

From the first day, Buddy made pizzas alongside co-workers who became part of his extended LaRosa’s family using his Aunt Dena’s recipe. Seventy years later, LaRosa’s still uses that same recipe. For many years, Buddy worked long hours at the pizzeria while his wife, JoJo, made a loving home for their family.

“Dad is a living example of how much you can achieve with a good idea, lots of hard work, and a commitment to be the best,” said Michael LaRosa, CEO, LaRosa’s, Inc. “He worked tirelessly to build relationships with guests, one person and one pizza at a time.”

Buddy guided LaRosa’s growth with determination and a commitment to quality, reflected in his motto: “Good Better Best, Never Let It Rest, Until Your Good Is Better and Your Better Is Best.”

In 1967, the first LaRosa’s franchise was sold to Ed Eilers who, while making frequent trips to deliver LaRosa’s hoagy buns, saw an incredible opportunity. By 1980, LaRosa’s had 25 locations. It is now a restaurant company with pizzerias in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

LaRosa’s still is truly a family business with Buddy’s sons Michael serving as Chief Executive Officer and Mark as President. A third generation of LaRosa’s in company management is represented by Nick LaRosa, Mike’s son and Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Intelligence.

With a focus on serving real family recipes, LaRosa’s offers over 40 menu selections for dine in, pick up or delivery. “While our pizza, and particularly our famous pizza sauce, has always been very popular, we also take great pride in the selections we’ve added over time to incorporate guests’ changing tastes and preferences,” said Mike LaRosa.

Last night’s Anniversary Celebration kicked off with a “Hats Off to Buddy” event, where media personalities, fellow restaurateurs, sports figures and local celebrities shared their stories of Buddy’s unique personality and strong work ethic with the LaRosa family and guests.

SOURCE LaRosa’s

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