Member Since
LaRosa's Inc.
Cincinnati, OH
United States
Inspiration sometimes comes from the least likely situations. For Buddy LaRosa, it was the annual summer festival at his family's San Antonio Italian Catholic Church in 1953 Cincinnati. He made some pizzas using his Aunt Dena's recipe to sell at the festival as a fundraiser. They were a huge hit.
This success gave him an idea. He scraped together $400 and, with a couple of partners and his Aunt Dena's pizza recipe, opened "Papa Gino's"- his first family pizzeria. It gained a fast following among high school kids and their families, who made the place a favorite hang-out. Buddy bought out his partners after a few years and he renamed it LaRosa's.
LaRosa
Today, LaRosa’s is still family owned and operated. Buddy’s sons, Mike and Mark, use Buddy’s motto: “Good, better, best, never let it rest; until your good is better and your better, best” to continuously improve LaRosa’s guest experience. It’s been key to thriving through 65 years in the restaurant business.
Here are some of the highlights
- Family Recipes- Since Buddy started, LaRosa’s has always served real family recipes. The pizza sauce is Aunt Dena’s. The spaghetti sauce is Grandma Mary’s. The meatballs are Grandma Josephine’s. Really! Mark LaRosa, trained at the Culinary Institute of America, carries on the family recipe tradition.
- Delivery- LaRosa's began delivery to homes and businesses in 1984- 35 years before today’s hot trend. LaRosa's has always delivered everything on the menu...over 40 selections!
- One Number- Since 1991, guests anywhere in LaRosa’s service area can call 513-347-1111 or 888-LAROSAS (toll free) to order for pick up or delivery. All calls go to the Guest Service Center...where customer service representatives focus on taking orders quickly and correctly.
- Online App- Since 2003, Guests anywhere in LaRosa’s service area can order online for pick up or delivery at www.larosas.com. In 2014, LaRosa’s introduced its mobile ordering app for Apple and Android devices.
Buddy LaRosa was an early advocate of franchising, beginning in 1967. Over time, LaRosa's has grown to serve hundreds of neighborhoods throughout Cincinnati, Dayton, Central Ohio, Northern and Central Kentucky and Southeast Indiana.
LaRosa’s is looking to expand outside its Midwestern home with the help of smart franchise owners like you in newly targeted areas in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina.