Pizza Ranch facts for kids
 |
|
Grand Island, Nebraska restaurant
|
|
| Private | |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | 1981, in Hull, Iowa, U.S. |
| Founders | Adrie Groeneweg Lawrence Vander Esch |
| Headquarters | Orange City, Iowa, U.S. |
|
Number of locations
|
215 |
|
Key people
|
|
| Products | Pizza, chicken |
| Revenue | US$138.121 million |
Pizza Ranch, Inc. is a popular restaurant chain that started in 1981. It's known for its delicious pizza and chicken, served in a buffet style. This means you can eat as much as you like! Pizza Ranch has over 200 locations, mostly in the central United States.
The company is based on Christian values. Its main goal is "To glorify God by positively impacting the world we live in." Because of its many locations in Iowa, Pizza Ranch restaurants are often visited by people running for president, especially during the important Iowa caucuses.
Contents
The Story of Pizza Ranch
How It All Started
Pizza Ranch was founded in 1981 by two friends, Adrie Groeneweg and Lawrence Vander Esch. The very first Pizza Ranch restaurant opened its doors on December 21, 1981, in a town called Hull, Iowa.
Growing Across States
Just two years later, in 1983, a second Pizza Ranch restaurant opened in Orange City, Iowa. Over the years, the company grew steadily. By 2005, the main office for Pizza Ranch moved from Hull to Orange City, Iowa. Today, you can find Pizza Ranch in many states, including Iowa, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Tennessee, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Pizza Ranch and Politics
Because Iowa is the first state to hold important political meetings called Iowa caucuses for choosing presidential candidates, Pizza Ranch locations there often become popular stops. Many politicians visit these restaurants to meet people and share their ideas. For example, in 2008, a candidate named Mike Huckabee often visited Pizza Ranch locations during his campaign. He ended up winning the Iowa caucuses that year, which was a big surprise!
A Big Fan's Journey
In 2024, a man from Iowa completed an amazing challenge. He managed to visit every single Pizza Ranch restaurant that existed! This shows how much some people love the chain.
Images for kids
-
A Pizza Ranch restaurant at night.
