Celebrating 70 years of LaRosa’s

It’s 43 years for Sam David & Loveland LaRosa’s

By Chuck Gibson (NOTE: LaRosa’s Corporate contributed to this story) 

LOVELAND, OH (September 25, 2024) – It was in March 1954 when a young man named Donald “Buddy” LaRosa opened his first pizzeria in Cincinnati – it was among the first in Cincinnati.

Fast forward to March of 2024 when a 70th Anniversary Celebration kicked off with a “Hats Off to Buddy” event honoring Buddy and 70 years of LaRosa’s Pizzeria’s in, and around Cincinnati. Media personalities, fellow restaurateurs, sports figures and local celebrities were on hand to share their favorite stories about Buddy’s unique personality and strong work ethic with the LaRosa family and guests. It was a fitting way to kick off the celebration and honor the longevity and growth from one family pizzeria started on Boudinot Avenue in 1954 to the 62 pizzerias serving neighborhoods like Loveland and Landen throughout Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana today.

Buddy’s story is a great one, but the story of Sam David, his brothers, and their start as multiple LaRosa’s Pizzeria franchise owners some 44 years ago is equally compelling and unique.

Sam’s brother Tarik first opened a LaRosa’s Pizzeria franchise New Year’s Eve 1978. By 1980 Sam was working as a bus boy there. By 1981, his brother Tarik, and two other franchise owners, Tom and Tony partnered up to buy the Loveland LaRosa’s from the original franchise owner. It wasn’t long before Sam was spending time helping out at the Loveland location.

“I started as a bus boy. From there I moved onto the kitchen, cook and actually my brother fired me twice.” – Sam David, Owner Loveland & Landen LaRosa’s Pizzeria

Tarik wanted him to bus tables one evening, but Sam was determined to go back and cook hoagies to prove he could do it as well as the regular hoagy cook. Sam got “mad” when his brother insisted he bus tables and not cook hoagies. Tarik fired him. Ahh, brotherly love won out and Sam was forgiven. Today, 43 years later, Sam is owner of both the Landen and Loveland LaRosa’s Pizzerias.

“Without him I wouldn’t be where I am today,” said Sam.

The family has come a long way with LaRosa’s since Tarik opened his first LaRosa’s Pizzeria on that New Year’s Eve 46 years ago in 1978. Tarik and Sam’s nephew Chase own and operate 11 other LaRosa’s Pizzeria franchises. That makes a total of 13 LaRosa’s Pizzerias owned by the David family – more than any other LaRosa’s franchise owners. It is nearly 25% of the 62 total LaRosa’s Pizzerias all around Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana today. If you know Sam, it will not come as any surprise to learn what gives him the most pleasure owning and operating LaRosa’s Pizzeria in Landen and especially in Loveland.

“This will probably get me in trouble,” he said. “I get my biggest enjoyment from community involvement.”

His LaRosa’s team – about 150 employees between the two locations – helps keep LaRosa’s a part of the community; sponsoring youth sports teams, achievement awards and recognition for students and teachers and serving up the community favorite LaRosa’s pizza at most community events including festivals, special events, and of course Loveland High School athletic events.

“It can’t happen without the employees, the team,” Sam said. “Our philosophy of customer service and community involvement solely comes from Buddy himself.”

The LaRosa’s chain boasts a little over 4,000 team members today, but it did start with Donald “Buddy” LaRosa helping his mother and aunt sell pizza at the San Antonio church festival back home in South Fairmont-Cincinnati’s “Little Italy”- in the summer of 1953. The pizza was a tremendous hit, inspiring Buddy to scrape together $400 for a down payment on a pizza oven and open his first pizzeria March 24, 1954, on Boudinot Avenue in Westwood.  Buddy started with three partners—Richard “Muzzie” Minella, Mike Soldano, and Frank “Head” Serraino—and the restaurant was originally called Papa Gino’s. The name eventually changed to LaRosa’s when Buddy became the sole owner.

From the first day, Buddy made pizzas alongside co-workers who became part of his extended LaRosa’s family using his Aunt Dena’s recipe. Seventy years later, LaRosa’s still uses that same recipe. For many years, Buddy worked long hours at the pizzeria while his wife, JoJo, made a loving home for their family.

“Dad is a living example of how much you can achieve with a good idea, lots of hard work, and a commitment to be the best,” said Michael LaRosa, CEO, LaRosa’s, Inc. “He worked tirelessly to build relationships with guests, one person and one pizza at a time.”

It’s also about family and the extended family of employees and LaRosa’s team members at all the LaRosa’s Pizzerias, their bakery, their guest service center and corporate office. Truly a family business with Buddy’s Buddy’s sons Michael serving as Chief Executive Officer and Mark as President. A third generation of LaRosa’s in company management is represented by Nick LaRosa, Mike’s son and Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Intelligence.

It’s also true with the David family, Tarik who opened the first of their LaRosa’s Pizzeria’s along with brother Sam who owns and operates the Landen and Loveland locations and now his nephew Chase, not to mention Sam’s wife Michele Nunnelley Pettit who started out as a server in Loveland and still helps out sometimes today. She shared an anecdotal story about Buddy’s dedication to serving the guests.

“Buddy had all these stores already and he’d still open doors and greet customers as they came in,” Pettit said. “He jumped out of his car one day to open the door. If he saw somebody walking in, he would always open the door. He values customer service like no other. He leads by example.”

That example went beyond serving the guests and carried over into the culture and heart of LaRosa’s resulting in an astonishing record of longevity for team members. Sam pointed to several drivers with more than 20 years, Loveland manager John has been there since the 90’s and his senior district manager since about 1986. Tina is a familiar server to many who visit Loveland LaRosa’s and has been there going on eight years now.

“It’s home away from home,” said Tina. “They’ve always been understanding with my kids. It’s like I said, family!”

Things have evolved over the years. Sam recalls a time when being a good manager meant you worked hard. Now, it’s about being a leader.

“It’s a culture of happy friendly faces leading, but caring while holding each other accountable,” he said. “They stay because of appreciation and respect. We try to help them grow with team members that help each other out.”

Some of that appreciation is shown through “Team Nights” held at Kings Island and Coney Island before the pool was closed there. They’ve held cookouts for the team “out back” behind the restaurant. During the COVID crisis, they did something for the team every week – even if it was just bringing in cookies for them.

Managing style is not the only thing that evolved over the years at LaRosa’s Pizzerias. They added delivery, the “one number” for ordering and a Drive-up Pickup window was added. Just like over the years LaRosa’s has grown to become synonymous with pizza in Cincinnati, so too has Sam David and LaRosa’s become synonymous with pizza in Loveland and Landen.

Still, it’s more than just pizza. LaRosa’s offers over 40 menu selections for dine in, pick up or delivery.

Always looking for ways to have fun with guests, LaRosa’s frequently adds special menu items like Montgomery Inn Ribs pizza, fish hoagies during Lent and this summer and until the last day of September: The  cheeseburger deluxe pizza. You can also find cutouts of Founder Buddy LaRosa at each LaRosa’s Pizzeria where you are encouraged to take a selfie and share at #SayCheeseburger.

For Sam David, his brother and all the David family being part of the LaRosa’s extended family for 46 years has “meant the world”. The LaRosa’s family has been there for them every step of the way during those 46 years. Anytime there was a need for help, they were right there. If a problem arose, LaRosa’s team helped find the solution. It is no wonder LaRosa’s is celebrating 70 years.

“They’re their 100 percent. I have no regrets at all,” said Sam David. “It’s been fun!”

sLaRosa’s want you to come celebrate with them. To celebrate the 70th Anniversary, They’re thanking Guests by inviting you to enter their special giveaway, where 70 lucky guests will win FREE PIZZA FOR A YEAR, plus more prizes from Coca-Cola, FC Cincinnati, Kings Island and Cincinnati Zoo.  Visit: larosas.com/70thanniversary for details.  

About LaRosa’s

LaRosa’s Family Pizzeria, founded in 1954 on Cincinnati’s West Side by Buddy LaRosa, this year celebrates 70 years of serving real family recipes.  It is now a $192 million restaurant company with 62 pizzerias serving neighborhoods in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. To learn more about LaRosa’s, go to: https://www.larosas.com/