Round Table Pizza

Round Table Pizza
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Restaurant
Founded	1 December 1959; 66 years ago in Menlo Park, California, United States
Founder	William R. Larson
Headquarters	Atlanta, United States
Area served	Western United States; Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar (planned expansion)
Products	Pizza, salads, drinks, craft beer
Owner	FAT Brands
Parent	FAT Brands
Website	www.roundtablepizza.com

Round Table Pizza is a franchise and chain of pizza restaurants predominantly located in the Western region of the United States. Established in 1959 by businessman William R. Larson, the enterprise has grown to encompass more than 400 outlets and is currently based in Atlanta, Georgia. It operates as a subsidiary of FAT Brands.

Overview

Round Table Pizza features two primary operational models: classic dining establishments specializing in pizza, salads, and drinks, and the Round Table Pizza Clubhouse - Pizza Pub Play concept, which incorporates arcade gaming, large sports televisions, an expanded menu selection, and craft beer offerings to elevate the dining experience.

History

The brand was initiated by William R. Larson, who launched the inaugural Round Table Pizza in Menlo Park, California, in December 1959. The name stems from the unique round redwood tables that Larson and his father crafted. This first location was later relocated nearby and continues to be managed by Larson’s son, Bob Larson.

By 1978, under William Larson’s guidance, Round Table Pizza had grown to more than 225 outlets. Although the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2011, it successfully restructured its operations, fully compensated its creditors, and enhanced its financial stability through improved cash flow and debt reduction.

In 2014, Round Table entered into a development agreement aimed at expanding into Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar. By 2016, the chain operated upwards of 450 franchised and company-owned locations across Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. In September 2017, Global Franchise Group acquired Round Table Pizza; however, all locations in Dubai were closed during that month.

In celebration of its 60th anniversary in 2019, the brand underwent a rebranding effort that introduced a fresh logo and adopted the slogan "Pizza Royalty." That year also saw its expansion into the Dallas-Fort Worth area with new restaurants opening in Frisco and University Park.

On June 28, 2021, FAT Brands announced it would acquire Global Franchise Group for $442.5 million, finalizing the deal on July 22. This acquisition further incorporated Round Table Pizza into FAT Brands’ extensive collection of global restaurant concepts.

Marketing

William Larson developed the original tagline "share a little pizza with someone you love," which was later revised to "The Last Honest Pizza." In 1961, he embraced a King Arthur theme for branding purposes after being inspired by illustrations depicting King Arthur’s court enjoying pizza. The logo’s three banners were introduced in 1970 to represent the letters "F-U-N." Franchising played a key role in Round Table Pizza’s expansion strategy.

In 1979, Larson sold part of his company shares to investors who established an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) in 1985. This initiative led to Round Table Pizza becoming entirely employee-owned by 1992. Larson gradually divested most of his holdings by 1995, completing the shift in ownership structure.

Between 2003 and 2005, television advertisements featured puppet characters Matt and Marcus as brand mascots. In 2007, the Pizza Knight mascot was introduced to strengthen family-focused marketing efforts. Later promotional campaigns included actor Billy Gardell as a spokesperson to boost brand recognition and market presence.

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