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Gatti's Pizza company history timeline

1958

In 1958, Frank and Dan Carney opened the first Pizza Hut in Wichita, Kansas, and a year later they incorporated and opened their first franchise unit in Topkea, Kansas.

1960

Whereas Pizza Hut was devoted to a table and chairs concept, Detroit native Tom Monaghan founded Domino's Pizza in 1960 and pioneered the pizza delivery chain.

1964

Gatti's was founded in 1964 by a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel named James Eure.

In 1964 he opened his first restaurant, called "The Pizza Place," in a former Austin, Texas convenience store.

1968

The Colonel decided to take his pizza expertise to a bigger area, so he and his wife Patti moved about 250 miles south to Austin, in 1968.

1969

The next year, 1969, the Colonel opened the “Pizza Place” with high hopes.

By 1969 the aspiring chain had grown to 18 stores.

1970

L.D. Brinkman Founding the Business in 1970

1973

1973: Eure names his pizza chain Mr.

1974

In 1974 the Colonel was approached by investors who wanted to expand Mr.

1978

By 1978 LDB was once again liquid, although it consisted of little more than Brinkman's original carpet business.

1978: LDB acquires Mr.

1982

Pizza Hut continued to dominate the market with more than $1 billion in sales for 1982 and over 4,000 eateries.

Gatti’s is acquired by L.D. Brinkman Corporation.1982:Mr.

1985

Gatti’s had reached 350 locations nationwide, yet had sales of only $130 million for 1985.

Despite the popularity of the pizza market, which had surpassed burger chains in unit growth (31,000 pizzerias versus 26,500 burger outlets for 1985), according to Restaurant Business magazine, several chains began to lose their footing.

1986

In fiscal 1986 chainwide sales totaled $130 million.

1987

1987: LDB sells off its carpet and flooring businesses.

1988

By 1988 revenues for Mr.

When NCNB acquired the assets of First RepublicBank in 1988, Mr.

1990

Early in 1990 Brinkman assumed the presidency and initiated cost-cutting measures that included reduced pay for senior officers and relocating the pizza chain's headquarters from Austin to Brinkman's offices in Kerrville.

1991

The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1991 and began reorganizing.

1993

The company's stock, which at one point dipped below $1, also began to show improvement. As a result, LDB rebounded, returning to profitability in 1993, earning $131,000.

1994

In September 1994 Brinkman decided to take LDB private, offering to buy outstanding shares at $5.50 each, which placed a $10.2 million value on the company, less than 25 percent of the $41.8 million in sales LDB posted the previous year.

2003

Parent company LDB Corporation was in financial trouble and by 2003 was forced into bankruptcy.

2004

In November 2004 Brinkman, which had owned Mr.

Blue Sage partner Jim McBride told the Austin Business Journal (December 9, 2004) Mr.

2005

Nathanson, Ari, “Blue Sage Invests in Family, Food, Fun,” Buyouts, January 3, 2005.

Gatti’s from LDB Corporation.2005:New CEO Mike Mrlik takes the helm.

2007

In 2007 there were 150 Gatti’s locations in Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Indiana, and Virginia.

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Gatti's Pizza may also be known as or be related to Gatti's Pizza and Mr Gatti's Pizza.