Gatti's Pizza
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| Gatti's Pizza | |
|---|---|
| Type | Private |
| Founded | Stephenville, Texas, USA (1964) |
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas, USA |
| Key people | Colonel James R. Eure (founder) Michael J. Mrlik, II (CEO) |
| Industry | Food Wholesale |
| Products | Pizza, Salad bar, Buffet, Prizes, Video games |
| Website | gattispizza.com |
Gatti's Pizza is a Southeastern United States pizza-buffet chain. Gatti's Pizza was founded in 1964 and their corporate offices are located in Austin, Texas owned by Blue Sage Capital, a private equity investment firm.[1]
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[edit] History
In 1964, retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel James R. Eure opened a pizza and hamburger restaurant in his hometown of Stephenville, Texas.[2] He and his wife moved to Austin, Texas; and in 1969, he opened a pizza restaurant in Austin under the name, "The Pizza Place." In order to identify themselves apart from the rest of the pizza places, Colonel Eure undertook a name contest. Colonel Eure's wife's maiden name was Gatti, which soon won out many other proposed names and The Pizza Place was renamed Mr. Gatti's Pizza[3].
In 1974, Eure sold his chain of 18 Mr. Gatti's restaurants to a group of investors, but held on to a few franchises. The investors worked with Colonel Eure in helping the company grow by establishing in Texas and many other states.[4] The chain has since changed hands a number of times.
By the 1980s, Mr. Gatti's took on a more modern look by adding a game room and a buffet bar into many of their restaurants[3].
[edit] Today
Gatti's Pizza current has over 140 restaurants. Some Gatti's Pizza restaurants which are larger in size are called Gatti Town and sometimes Gattiland.[3] In 2004, Blue Sage Capital bought the chain [1]. Three years later in 2007, Blue Sage renamed Mr. Gatti's to Gatti's Pizza to reflect current trends.[4]
[edit] Slogans
- Past: "The Best Pizza in Town Honest"
- Current: "Getting Together Over Gatti's"
[edit] References
- "Obituary:Jim Eure", Austin American-Statesman, September 2005. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
