by Cindy Woods

Created on: April 30, 2009

You really can't go into the history of the chain pizzerias in the United States without first getting a little history on pizza itself and how it came to the United States in the first place.

Considered a dish for the poor it was sold in the streets. In 16th century Naples a galette flatbread was referred to as a pizza. It was usually covered with a white sauce. By the 17th century the white sauce was replaced by oil, cheese, tomatoes and fish.

In June 1889, to honor the Queen consort Margherita of Savoy, Chef Raffaele Esposito created the "Pizza Margherita", a pizza garnished with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil, to represent the colors of the Italian flag.

The first "official" pizzeria in America is generally believed to have been founded by Gennaro Lombardi in Little Italy, Manhattan. Lombardi opened a grocery store in 1897 which later was established as the first pizzeria in America in 1905.

Before the 1940's, pizza consumption was limited to that of the Italian immigrant population and their descendants. During World War II, however Allied troops who were stationed in Italy and constantly on the lookout for good food discovered the pizzeria. The soldiers brought their appreciation for pizza back to the US.

The modern pizza industry was born in the Midwestern United States, when Rick Riccardo broke new ground creating what became known as the Chicago-style deep dish pizza. In 1943 he and Ike Sewell opened Pizzeria Uno in Chicago.

That began the eruption of the American Pizzeria. Pizza parlors began springing up around the country. With the rising popularity of pizza it wasn't long before the pizza chains began to move in.

With the founding of Shakey's Pizza in 1954 in Sacramento, California a new era of pizza consumption and pizza chains began.

In 1958 Pizza Hut was founded in Wichita, Kansas by Dan and Frank Carney, with the first franchise opening in Topeka, Kansas.

Round Table, founded by William Larson, came on the scene in Menlo Park, California in 1959.

Little Cesar's, founded by Mike LLitch, opened in Garden City, Michigan also in 1959.

Domino's hit the scene in 1960, just outside Ann Arbor, Michigan. Founded by Tom Monaghan the company has to date 8500 corporations and franchises.

In 1961 The Pizza Parlor opened in Tulsa, Oklahoma became Ken's Pizza in 1961 and ultimately became Mazzio's in 1965.

Godfather's Pizza joined the scene in 1973. A subsidiary of the Pillsbury company it began in Omaha, Nebraska.

1974 brought Giordano's Pizzeria, founded by Efron and Joseph Bolio in Chicago, Illinois.

Papa John's and Papa Murphy's joined the ranks of pizza chains in 1984. Papa John's began in Jeffersonville, Indiana and was the first of the chains to include dipping sauces with their pizzas.

Papa Murphy's began as Papa Aldo's in 1981 in Hillsboro, Oregon but changed the name to Papa Murphy's in 1984 opening in Petaluma, California.

California Pizza Kitchen, founded by Rick Rosefield and Larry Flax opened in Beverley Hills, California in 1985.

In the American pizza business today, the focus has gone from pizza dining at the parlor to pizza delivery and it is dominated by companies that specialize in delivery. Companies such as Domino's, Brooklyn Pizzeria, Papa John's Pizza, Giordano's Pizza, Little Cesar's and Godfather's Pizza.

Even Pizza Hut shifted its emphasis away from pizza parlors and more toward home delivery. In the last few years there has been a new take on the pizza business. The take home and bake it pizzeria, such as Papa Murphy's.

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