America's Incredible Pizza Company

America's Incredible Pizza Company is an American restaurant and family-entertainment brand based in Springfield, Missouri. Its venues combine pizza-focused buffet dining with large indoor entertainment centers, positioning the business between a casual restaurant, a buffet operation, and a family entertainment center. Customers typically purchase food and, depending on the venue and package, gain access to attractions such as arcade games, go-karts, bowling, billiards, miniature golf, and other recreational activities. The company was founded in Springfield in 2002 by Rick and Cheryl Barsness. The founders had previously operated Mr. Gatti's Pizza franchises and sold those interests to finance their own concept, initially called Springfield's Incredible Pizza Company. Rick Barsness's concept was rooted in the idea of creating a place where families could eat and spend time together, reflecting his personal experience of wanting a shared family venue during his childhood. The first restaurant therefore developed as more than a conventional pizza outlet: it was designed as a broad, indoor destination for families and children. The brand expanded through franchising beginning in 2003. Its locations were designed on a substantial scale, with themed dining areas and entertainment facilities integrated under one roof. The company used a nostalgic 1950s visual and musical theme, while its dining format included pizza, pasta, salad, and dessert stations. Public descriptions of the format identify multiple seating environments, including areas styled as a drive-in, family room, diner, and gym. The entertainment offer and buffet format were intended to support birthday parties, group outings, and family visits rather than only individual restaurant transactions. America's Incredible Pizza Company also pursued brand-building activities outside its restaurants. It sponsored the No. 11 CJM Racing car in NASCAR's Nationwide Series during 2008 and 2009, linking the brand with motorsports and family-oriented public events. During this period, the company reported rapid growth and received recognition from the amusement and food-service sectors. It also established the Incredible Pizza Company Foundation in 2007, which supported missionaries, orphanages, and local charitable organizations. The company has experienced corporate and operational changes during its history. Its headquarters were established in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2003 and moved to Springfield, Missouri in 2009. At least one location, at Lafayette Square Mall in Indianapolis, was announced for closure in 2012. Publicly available reference material documents the brand's U.S. restaurant and entertainment concept, historical expansion, sponsorships, and selected legal and philanthropic events, but does not provide a consistently current store count or a verified present-day financial profile. The company remains presented as a private U.S. operator under the Incredible Pizza name.

America's Incredible Pizza Company began in Springfield, Missouri, in 2002. It was created by Rick and Cheryl Barsness, who had earlier owned 11 Mr. Gatti's Pizza franchises. The couple sold those franchises to fund a new business concept, initially named Springfield's Incredible Pizza Company. The idea came largely from Rick Barsness, whose childhood experience of wanting a place where families could eat and enjoy activities together influenced the company's family-centered format. The first restaurant was conceived as a hybrid rather than a standard pizzeria. It paired a pizza buffet with an indoor entertainment center, allowing the business to serve meals while also providing activities for children and families. The format developed around large venues containing dining areas, amusement facilities, and spaces suitable for birthdays and group gatherings. The restaurants adopted a 1950s-inspired theme in their décor and music. Their food service was described as including pizza, pasta, salads, and desserts, while the entertainment facilities included arcade games, go-karts, billiards, bowling, miniature golf, and related attractions. The company's early growth included franchising, which began in 2003. That year also brought a major legal dispute with Mr. Gatti's. The former franchisor alleged that Rick Barsness had breached his franchise agreement and misappropriated trade secrets. The dispute concluded with a settlement under which Barsness agreed to pay $1 million and provide Mr. Gatti's with 1 percent of Incredible Pizza's net sales for the following 10 years. This episode is a documented part of the brand's early corporate history and distinguishes its expansion from an entirely uncomplicated franchise transition. In 2003, the company established its corporate headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The headquarters later moved to Springfield, Missouri, in 2009, aligning the corporate base with the location of the original restaurant. The chain's venues were unusually large for restaurants, with reference material describing typical facilities of approximately 65,000 to 70,000 square feet. The company also described its restaurants as smoke-free and alcohol-free, reinforcing their positioning as family destinations. The brand expanded its public profile through motorsports sponsorship. America's Incredible Pizza Company was the primary sponsor of the No. 11 CJM Racing entry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2008 and 2009. In 2008, the sponsored team finished 17th in the series, while driver Jason Keller achieved the team's strongest cited result with a third-place finish at Gateway Motorsports Park. A partnership involving CJM Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing also brought driver Scott Lagasse Jr. into the sponsorship program; he finished 13th in the sponsored Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October 2008. The sponsorship ended in December 2009 when CJM Racing suspended operations. Community activity became another part of the company's public identity. In fall 2007, Rick and Cheryl Barsness established the Incredible Pizza Company Foundation to support missionaries and orphanages. The foundation donated $24,000 to Convoy of Hope in February 2008 and $6,500 to Care to Learn, a fund managed by the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools, in September 2008. The company received industry recognition during its growth period. In 2008, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions recognized it as a Top Family Entertainment Center of the World, placing it among the leading entertainment centers in the cited ranking. The same year, it was listed in the Inc. 500 as the 456th fastest-growing company in the United States and ranked 12th in the Inc. Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies list. These honors reflected the expansion of its combined food-service and entertainment model, although they do not establish the company's current scale. The chain also adjusted its physical footprint. In 2012, it announced the closure of its Lafayette Square Mall restaurant in Indianapolis. Public reference material does not provide a complete, current chronology of all openings, closures, ownership changes, or management succession. The verifiable history instead shows a privately held U.S. brand built around large pizza-buffet and amusement venues, expanded through franchising, promoted through NASCAR, and supported by a charitable foundation.

1. 2012Indianapolis location closure announced

   The Lafayette Square Mall location in Indianapolis was scheduled to close on March 19, 2012.

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2. 2009Headquarters returns to Springfield

   The company moved its headquarters from Tulsa back to Springfield, Missouri.

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3. 2008NASCAR sponsorship and industry recognition

   The brand sponsored CJM Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and received recognition in family-entertainment and fast-growth rankings.

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4. 2007Incredible Pizza Company Foundation established

   The founders created a foundation focused on donations to missionaries, orphanages, and community causes.

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5. 2003Franchising begins and headquarters move to Tulsa

   The company began franchising and established its corporate headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

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6. 2003Mr. Gatti's legal dispute settles

   A dispute with Mr. Gatti's concluded with a $1 million settlement and an agreement involving 1 percent of net sales for the next 10 years.

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7. 2002First restaurant opens in Springfield

   Rick and Cheryl Barsness opened the first America's Incredible Pizza Company restaurant in Springfield, Missouri, initially using the name Springfield's Incredible Pizza Company.

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A family-oriented pizza buffet and indoor entertainment destination combining casual dining, group occasions, and amusement activities.

• Pizza buffetRestaurant dining2002

  The central food-service offering is a pizza-oriented buffet designed for family and group dining. The buffet format is presented as part of a broader visit in which customers can combine meals with indoor entertainment. Reference material describes a wide selection of pizza varieties alongside other buffet stations.

• Pasta, salad, and dessert buffetRestaurant dining2002

  In addition to pizza, the restaurants provide buffet stations for pasta, salads, and desserts. These offerings broaden the appeal beyond pizza and support mixed family preferences, group meals, and birthday or event occasions.

• Family entertainment centerIndoor entertainment2002

  The company's large venues combine restaurant seating with indoor attractions. Described activities include arcade games, go-karts, bowling, billiards, miniature golf, and other amusements. The centers are designed for families and children and are integrated with food service rather than operated solely as standalone amusement facilities.

• Family and group packagesHospitality and events

  The combined buffet-and-attractions format supports family outings, birthday parties, and group visits. Public descriptions identify themed seating areas such as a drive-in, family room, diner, and gym, creating multiple settings for organized or casual visits.

• 2008CJM Racing NASCAR sponsorship

  United States

  America's Incredible Pizza Company served as primary sponsor of the No. 11 CJM Racing entry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The program connected the family-entertainment brand with national motorsports exposure and included promotional appearances at restaurant openings.

  Outcome. The sponsored team finished 17th in the 2008 season; Jason Keller recorded a cited third-place finish at Gateway Motorsports Park. The sponsorship continued into 2009 and ended in December 2009 when CJM Racing suspended operations.

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• 2012Close Lafayette Square Mall locationOther

  The company reviewed its physical footprint and announced the closure of its Indianapolis restaurant at Lafayette Square Mall.

  What changed. The location was scheduled to close on March 19, 2012.

  Aftermath. The closure reduced the brand's presence at that mall; broader effects on the chain are not established by the cited source.

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• 2009Move headquarters to SpringfieldStrategy

  The company had maintained its headquarters in Tulsa since 2003 while its founding restaurant and corporate origins were in Springfield, Missouri.

  What changed. The headquarters was relocated from Tulsa to Springfield.

  Aftermath. Springfield became the company's documented headquarters location.

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• 2008Launch NASCAR Nationwide Series sponsorshipOther

  The company used motorsports to increase brand visibility and associate its family-oriented business with a nationally followed sporting series.

  What changed. It became the primary sponsor of CJM Racing's No. 11 entry, later participating in a partnership involving Joe Gibbs Racing.

  Aftermath. The program produced national exposure and several cited race results before ending in 2009 when CJM Racing suspended operations.

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• 2003Begin franchising the restaurant-entertainment conceptStrategy

  After opening its first Springfield restaurant, the company sought to expand a format combining pizza-buffet dining with indoor family entertainment.

  What changed. America's Incredible Pizza Company began franchising and expanded beyond its original Springfield operation.

  Aftermath. The franchising strategy supported the development of multiple large-format locations, although a complete current store history is not available in the cited material.

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• 2003Mr. Gatti's franchise and trade-secrets disputeControversy

  Mr. Gatti's alleged that Rick Barsness had violated his franchise contract and taken trade secrets after the Barsnesses left their Mr. Gatti's franchise business. The dispute ended in a settlement requiring a $1 million payment and 1 percent of Incredible Pizza's net sales for the following 10 years.

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• 2012America's Incredible Pizza Company announces Indianapolis location closure

  The company announced that its Lafayette Square Mall location in Indianapolis would close on March 19, 2012.

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• 2009America's Incredible Pizza Company ends NASCAR sponsorship

  The company's sponsorship of CJM Racing ended when the racing organization suspended operations in December 2009.

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• 2008Incredible Pizza Company opens its fifteenth restaurant in Mesquite

  The company marked the opening of its fifteenth restaurant in Mesquite, Texas, with NASCAR driver Jason Keller attending an associated promotional event.

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1. America's Incredible Pizza Company
2. America's Incredible Pizza Company official website