LaRosa's Pizzeria is a chain of pizzerias serving neighborhoods throughout Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. It was founded in 1954 by Donald "Buddy" LaRosa,[1] along with partners Richard "Muzzie" Minella, Mike Soldano and Frank "Head" Serraino.[2] Originally called Papa Gino's,[1] LaRosa later bought out his partners, and changed the name to LaRosa's.
History
Buddy LaRosa agreed to help his mother and aunts sell pizza at their church festival in the summer of 1953.[1] Success at the festival led LaRosa to cash in a life insurance policy and rent his first restaurant building and pizza oven on Boudinot Avenue in the Westwood area of Cincinnati.[3] The business expanded, and now operates 65 pizzerias, with total annual sales of $185 million.