Marion's Piazza

Marion's Piazza is a pizzeria chain based in Dayton, Ohio. Established in 1965 by Marion Glass, the company operates nine restaurants throughout the greater Dayton area. Marion's son, Roger Glass, took over as CEO after Marion's death in 2006 and continued to manage the company until his passing in August of 2022.[1]

Signage for Marion's Piazza
Deluxe Pizza with extra cheese, with characteristic small square slices

The pizzeria produces Dayton-style pizza.[2] In 2017, it was recognized by the trade publication Pizza Today, as the number one independent pizza chain based on sales.[3][4] Roger Glass, the CEO, noted that the company won the award four of the last five years.[4]

History

The company was founded on August 19, 1965 by Marion Glass.[2] Glass was an owner of three franchises for the larger Dayton-area Cassano's Pizza King chain.[1] Glass said he wanted his own restaurant because he wanted to offer a dining-room experience as opposed to the mostly delivery and carry-out options.[1]

His departure from Cassano's came a year after what the Dayton Daily News dubbed the "pizza wars".[5] A fellow Cassano's franchisee, Ron Holp, broke off and opened his own restaurant, which led to a lawsuit between Holp and Cassano's, in which Holp was accused of stealing pizza dough from the company. After Holp won the case, Glass asked if he could buy dough for Marion's. While Holp would not sell it, his wife showed Glass how to make the dough.[5]

As of 2018 the chain was selling a million pizzas yearly.[6] PMQ magazine, a trade journal of the pizza industry, named them to its hall of fame.[7]

1965 price promotions

Every 5 years, for one day only, Marion's Piazza sells their traditional menu items at the original 1965 price (e.g., a small cheese pizza for $0.80 and a large deluxe pizza for $2.50).[8]

Kenley Players cast parties

One of the distinct characteristics of every Marion's Piazza location is the photos found on the walls. From 1966 to 1995, the Kenley Players would hold cast parties at Marion's after their summer theatre performances.[1] Today, the walls are filled with black and white photographs of the parties. Many of the photos are autographed by the celebrities. The photographs include celebrities such as Paul Lynde, Desi Arnaz, Jr., Sandy Duncan, Sally Field, McLean Stevenson, Barry Williams, Gary Sandy, Loni Anderson, Robert Goulet, Mickey Rooney, William Shatner, Tim Conway, Morgan Fairchild, Dom DeLuise, Joyce DeWitt, Billy Crystal, Bill Bixby, Karla DeVito, Rip Taylor, and George Hamilton among others. The photos serve as memorial of Marion's tradition in the Dayton area.[9][10]

See also

References
  1. Powell, Lisa (August 17, 2017). "From peanuts to pizza: Marion's Piazza marks 52 years". Dayton Daily News.
  2. Bowman, Nancy (December 26, 2015). "Dayton pizza businesses going strong more than 50 years later". Dayton Daily News.
  3. "2017 Pizza Today Hot 100 Independent Pizzerias". Pizza Today. October 1, 2017.
  4. Powell, Lisa; Fisher, Mark; Robinson, Amelia (December 1, 2017). "9 times local food favorites made national headlines in 2017". Dayton Daily News.
  5. Gillette, Rich (January 15, 2016). "Ron's Pizza the originator of Dayton's 'pizza wars'". Dayton Daily News.
  6. "I Love Dayton: Marion's Piazza averages one million pizzas per year". WDTN. December 20, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  7. "Marion's Piazza". Pizza Magazine. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  8. "Marion's to offer 80-cent pizzas". Dayton Business Journal. August 2009.
  9. Rollins, Ron (March 13, 2006). "Why I really like Marion's". Middletown Journal. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011.
  10. Rollins, Ron (May 13, 2008). "New Marion's Piazza!". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008.
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