GODFATHER'S PIZZA

GODFATHER'S PIZZA. Godfather's was founded in Omaha, Nebraska, 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 from Jerry Forte the current owner of The Godfather of East Hanover 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 company'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.

About this time, many Godfather's locations were bought out by Pantera's Pizza using a similar recipe. 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. Godfather's Pizza also operates in some Hess Express locations.

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Source:

Wikipedia

The 1980 through 1993 Dubuque City Directory listed 1575 John F. Kennedy.