Since 1990, the East of Chicago Pizza Company has grown from a single store in Willard, Ohio, to more than 120 locations spanning Ohio, Indiana, South Carolina and Florida. Each store taking extreme pride in making our signature deep pan pizza dough fresh every day.

In the Beginning
Scott Granneman, founder the East of Chicago Pizza Company, opened his first pizza shop back in 1982. Based in Greenwich, Ohio, the “Greenwich Pizza Barn” featured the same traditional thin crust pizza served at other mom-and-pop pizza parlors. In an effort to differentiate his product from all others, Scott spent the next several years experimenting and perfecting a distinct fresh and airy deep pan pizza crust. The same deep pan crust that now bears the East of Chicago name.

The Origin of Our Name
In 1989, Reverend Marty Sanders, a Greenwich Pizza Barn customer got his first taste of Scott’s new creation. One bite and Rev. Sanders exclaimed, “This is the best pizza east of Chicago!” With that comment, Scott found the perfect name for his new product. In fact, it was the perfect name for his entire new company.

So Much More
Today, the East of Chicago Pizza Company offers a great deal more than just fantastic pizza. It offers an expanding menu of delicious toppings, crisp salads, oven-baked subs and warm breadsticks. But that’s still not all. East of Chicago also provides hard-working people with the opportunity to share in the American dream through East of Chicago franchising.
Discover the success of the East of Chicago Pizza Company for yourself. After just a taste, you’ll know we’ve been called one of “pizza’s heaviest hitters” by Pizza Today, made Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 for six years in a row, and made Success Magazine’s Franchise Gold 200 List for three years running.

1982
Scott Granneman opens first pizza restaurant Greenwich Pizza Barn, in Greenwich, Ohio
1989
Reverend Marty Sanders exclaimed, Greenwich Pizza Barn has the best pizza east of Chicago
1990
East of Chicago Pizza Company is founded and incorporated
1990
1st East of Chicago Pizza store opens in Greenwich, Ohio
1991
1st East of Chicago Pizza store opens in Sandusky, Ohio
1993
25th East of Chicago Pizza store opens in Rittman, Ohio
1995
50th East of Chicago Pizza store opens in South Amherst, Ohio
1997
75th East of Chicago Pizza store opens in Salem, Ohio
1998
The century mark, 100th EOC opens in LaGrange, Ohio
1996
Indiana opens first East of Chicago Pizza
1998
Florida opens first East of Chicago Pizza
2000
10th anniversary for East of Chicago Pizza Company
2005
15th anniversary for East of Chicago Pizza Company
2005
1st East of Chicago Pizza Fun Factory opens
2005
South Carolina opens first East of Chicago Pizza
2006
Tampa, FL opens new East of Chicago Pizza concept with buffet and games
2006
Ohio opens first East of Chicago Pizza Fun Factory in Defiance