| Boston Pizza | |
|---|---|
| Type | Casual Dining Franchise |
| Founded | Edmonton, Alberta (1968) |
| Headquarters | Richmond, British Columbia |
| Products | Pizza, Pasta, Ribs |
| Slogan | "You're among friends at Boston Pizza" |
Boston Pizza is a Canadian-based restaurant chain which owns and franchises locations in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Despite its name, the company has no connections to Boston, or any locations anywhere in Massachusetts: the company says it chose the name Boston because it was "a recognizable and established name...it was the 'Big Leagues.'"[1]
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History
The first restaurant, founded in Edmonton was known as "Boston Pizza and Spaghetti House" and was founded by Gus Agiortis, a Greek immigrant who had jumped ship in Vancouver. He later sold this restaurant to David McEvoy of Alberta. The company started franchising in the 1960s; Gus' two younger brothers, Nino and Trifon helped found the first restaurant in Edmonton and each started a franchise in Saskatoon and Regina, respectively. When the company and its franchise rights were sold, Nino and Trifon established pizzerias under new names: Nino's Pizza and Trifon's Pizza still exist in these cities. Six years after opening, Gus had 17 locations (two corporate and 15 franchised) in operation across Western Canada. In 1978 Agioritis sold the company to Ron Coyle. In 1983, Jim Treliving, a former RCMP officer who was one of the original franchisees, along with business partner George Melville, bought the chain. By 1995, the company boasted 97 restaurants in Western Canada[2]; there are presently 280 locations across Canada.[3]
Menu
Boston Pizza's menu consists of various pizza, pasta, salad, ribs and appetizers, as well as selections for children and a senior's menu which offers discounted prices.
Locations
The company operates in every Canadian province. In 1998 Boston Pizza began expanding into the United States by setting up headquarters in Dallas, Texas under the name Boston's The Gourmet Pizza; it's first American location opened in Tempe, Arizona in December of that year.[4] Its sole Mexican location is in Merida, Yucatan.
Spokespersons
In the mid 1990s, John Ratzenberger was hired as spokesperson and filmed a number of commercials for Boston Pizza. He was replaced by Howie Mandel, who was subsequently replaced by the character Louie, a Sasquatch.
