Round Table Pizza facts for kids
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Round Table #1 in Menlo Park, relocated to 1225 El Camino Real from its original location at 1235 El Camino Real.
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| Subsidiary | |
| Founded | 1959 Menlo Park, California, United States |
| Founder | William R. Larson |
| Headquarters |
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U.S.
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Number of locations
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400+ |
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Key people
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Paul Damico (CEO) |
| Products | Pizza, chicken wings, salads |
| Parent | FAT Brands |
Round Table Pizza is a popular chain of pizza restaurants. It has many locations, mostly in the western United States. The very first Round Table Pizza opened in 1959. Today, there are over 400 restaurants. The company's main office is in Atlanta, Georgia.
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What is Round Table Pizza?
Round Table Pizza has two main types of restaurants. The usual Round Table Pizza places serve delicious pizza, fresh salads, and drinks.
There is also a newer type called Round Table Pizza Clubhouse - Pizza Pub Play. These places have more fun things to do. They offer arcade games for kids and big TVs to watch sports. They also have a bigger menu with more food choices.
The Story of Round Table Pizza
How Round Table Pizza Started
Round Table Pizza was started by a man named William R. Larson. He was born in San Jose, California, in 1933. He grew up in Palo Alto, California. After serving in the U.S. Navy, William Larson worked different jobs. These jobs helped him learn what he needed to start his own restaurant.
He opened his first pizza place on December 21, 1959. It was in Menlo Park, California. He named his new restaurant Round Table Pizza. He chose this name because of the round redwood tables. He and his father built these tables themselves.
The First Location and Growth
The original restaurant in Menlo Park later moved to a new spot. It is still there today at 1225 El Camino Real. William's son, Bob Larson, owns and runs this first location.
William Larson's pizza recipe and crust quickly became very popular. Many customers loved it, and other business people wanted to open their own Round Table Pizza restaurants. By 1978, there were over 225 Round Table Pizza stores.
In 2014, the company made a deal to open 35 new restaurants. These new locations were planned for countries like Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. By 2016, there were more than 450 Round Table Pizza locations. These were in states like California, Oregon, and Washington.
New Owners and Changes
On September 15, 2017, Round Table Pizza announced it was bought by a company called Global Franchise Group. In 2019, Round Table Pizza changed its look for its 60th birthday. They got a new logo and a new motto: "Pizza Royalty." The chain also opened new restaurants in Texas for the first time that year.
On June 28, 2021, Global Franchise Group announced it would be bought by FAT Brands. FAT Brands owns other well-known restaurants like Fatburger. This deal was completed on July 22, 2021.
How Round Table Pizza Advertises
Slogans and Themes
William Larson created the first slogan for Round Table: "share a little pizza with someone you love." This was later changed to "The Last Honest Pizza."
In 1961, a friend of Larson's drew some pictures. They showed people from King Arthur's court eating pizza. William Larson then decided to use the King Arthur theme for his restaurants. The three banners in the official logo were added in 1970. They are meant to stand for the letters "F-U-N."
Mascots and Spokespeople
From about 2003 to 2005, Round Table Pizza had two puppet mascots. Their names were Matt and Marcus. They appeared in the company's TV commercials. In 2007, the Pizza Knight became Round Table Pizza's mascot. He was known as the "defender of family night." Later, other people, like actor Billy Gardell, were featured in their ads.
See also
