From the “only link in the world’s smallest pizza chain” with a tiny store with three parking spaces across from a college in Monroe, Louisiana, in 1967 to the largest locally owned pizza chain in North Louisiana today, Johnny’s Pizza has come a long way, tossing and turning the area’s favorite pizza without fail day after day. “It’s been quite a run,” Johnny Huntsman, founder and chairman of the board emeritus, said. “We started out small, grew rapidly, had to restructure and now we’re enjoying a nice, steady pace.” After college in Iowa in the 1960s, Huntsman returned home and worked as an assistant coach at West Monroe High School and then as a sales representative at what is now Graphic Packaging International, also in West Monroe. He had always wanted to go into business for himself. But the only thing he knew at the time was how to make one heck of a pizza. He had learned that working at a pizza place while in college. “All the while I was making pizza for my friends and at parties,” Johnny said. Then one day he passed by the college (now the University of Louisiana at Monroe) and saw a building for rent. And with some borrowed money – $5,000 – he opened his first restaurant on DeSiard Street. There were no other pizza stores in Monroe in those days. And most people around had never eaten pizza. So the going was slow. His advertising consisted of a kid walking around with a poster in front of the restaurant, ringing a bell. And to encourage people to come in, he’d have friends park their cars in front of the place or ring the cash register when someone might call in on the phone. When Shakey’s Pizza, a national chain, came to town and started advertising in a big way, Huntsman thought it was over for him. But the advertising created an awareness about pizza, and Huntsman’s product started to take hold and claim its own following.
Johnny’s Pizza House
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3.8
Overall Excellence Rating
Industry
Fast Food Restaurant CompaniesCategory
Food & DrinkESG/Ethical Impact
Johnny’s Pizza House looks towards the future. Not only for ourselves, but for the whole world. We help pay young employees’ tuition, support local and national charities, and work hard to endear ourselves to every community that lets us in. As Johnny Huntsman always said, “If you can help, help as much as you can.”
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Awards Received
2023
Revenues
$103,000,000.00
Website Traffic
Employee Rating
3.9
Customer Rating
4
Company Size
100-1000
ESG Risk Rating
3
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