Donatos Pizza

When Jim Grote was 13, he took a job at a Columbus, OH pizza shop. By his sophomore year at The Ohio State University, the pizza business has him hooked for life. Jim bought the shop in 1963 for $1300. He kept the name, derived from the Latin for “to give a good thing”-the perfect way to describe his three-part mission: make the best pizza, hire great people, and promote goodwill in the community. As the business grew, Jim raised his family in a home behind that first pizza shop. The mix of work, friends and family helped define Donatos’ distinctive culture.“When folks arrived to pick up their pizza. I had them stop by to say hi to Nancy and the kids,” Jim remembers. “It was great, a home filled with friends and neighbors.” Today, our family-owned company remains a favorite in Columbus and beyond. Working with his daughter, Donatos Chairwoman Jane Grote, Jim remains a guiding influence at the company, and his values continue to shape everything we do-from our generous Edge to Edge® premium toppings to the way we treat our associates like family-and especially the way we always strive to be a good neighbor. Now with over 450 locations in 27 states, Donatos and its franchise partners operator more than170 traditional restaurants in OH, IN, WV, SC, AL, TN, GA, PA, and FL.