I think everyone will agree that Domino’s Pizza is one of the leading, if not the #1 pizza chain in the world with over 20,500 locations in more than 90 countries.
In fact, Domino’s claims that..
“…more than 1 million customers around the world enjoy hot, delicious Domino’s products every day.”
But its beginnings is also one for the books. It’s a story of ambition, resilience and innovation. In 1960, he and his brother James purchased their first pizza shop in Michigan for $900 with plans to open more stores.
Getting to Know Domino’s Founder
Tom Monaghan started doing all kinds of work including newspaper delivery, selling flowers and mowing lawns. Over the years he developed a strong work ethic and a passion for cars, particularly Cadillacs.
After high school, he served three years in the Marines and then later on enrolled at the University of Michigan where he studied architecture. But he had to stop as he encountered financial difficulties plus his grades weren’t up to par.
Tom became a delivery driver for a pizza shop called DomiNick’s, which he and his brother James eventually purchased for $900. After discovering the name was trademarked, they renamed it Domino’s Pizza. The brothers worked diligently – they improved the recipes, hired more drivers and expanded their services. By 1965 Domino’s Pizza grew to 12 stores across Michigan.
But while Domino’s Pizza achieved success early on, the brothers had different visions. Tom wanted a nationwide franchise, while James preferred a smaller local operation. Their differing ambitions led to a split in 1965, with Tom buying out James’s share for a Volkswagen Beetle and then went on to make Domino’s Pizza the leading pizza chain in the world.
The Rise of Domino’s Pizza
Tom Monaghan had a singular vision for Domino’s Pizza – delivering hot, fresh pizzas to customers within 30 minutes or less. He believed that speed was crucial in the pizza industry and to achieve this, he improved the delivery system by hiring more drivers, using better vehicles and finding better delivery routes. He also streamlined the menu offering only a 12-inch cheese pizza with pepperoni as he believed this will cut costs and production time.
By 1978, Domino’s Pizza had grown to 200 stores in the United States. By 1983, it had 1,000 stores, and in 1989, there were 5,000 Domino’s Pizza stores. The brand also went international in 1983 opening its first location in Winnipeg, Canada.
Domino’s introduced numerous innovations that revolutionized the pizza industry. In 1973, it launched the famous 30-minute delivery guarantee. By 1986, Domino’s introduced the pizza tracker and debuted its Noid mascot. I think we’re all familiar with this character by now.
What was it like to eat at the first Domino’s Pizza?
The first Domino’s location was in Ypsilanti, Michigan operated by brothers Tom and Jim Monaghan in 1960. It was conveniently located near Eastern Michigan University, which means they got a lot of hungry college students as customers. Sundays – when dormitory cafeterias were closed – were the busiest days for Dominick’s.
At the time, their bestseller was the six-inch pizzas due to their affordability and also because it was just the right size for 1-2 people. But one Sunday evening when one of his employees couldn’t report to work, Tom worried about how they’d handle the influx of orders. A co-worker suggested they stop making the six-inch pizzas since they took as long to prepare and deliver as the larger ones but were less profitable. They saw a huge profit in sales that night so Tom decided to remove the smaller sizes from their menu completely.
Where did Domino’s originate?
Tom and Jim Monaghan began their pizza business by reviving a closed pizzeria in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the early 1960s. Their customers were mostly students from a nearby university.
Is Domino’s American or British?
Domino’s Pizza is an American company, founded in 1960 by Tom Monaghan in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The company expanded internationally, with the first international location opening in Winnepeg Canada in 1983 and their first UK store opening in Luton in 1985.
Where is pizza originally from?
Our beloved pizza’s origins can be traced back to thousands of years when ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks enjoyed flatbreads with some toppings. The modern-day pizza on the other hand started in Naples, Italy.