Date unknown – A still from a vintage Pizza Pizza commercial “967-11-11 call Pizza Pizza, hey, hey hey!” (Courtesy of Pizza Pizza Ltd)
Pizza Pizza, the original store, is located at 68 Wellesley St E (just west of Parliament St on the south side and that store still exists today) in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood of Toronto.
Michael Overs, Pizza Pizza’s Founder
Michael Overs opened his first Pizza Pizza store on New Year’s Eve in 1967. Mr Overs grew up in The Beaches neighbourhood and began working full-time at 17. A decade later, the entrepreneur opened his first pizza shop in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood. In the early days, 90% of the business was delivery.
The founder, Michael Overs, was always thinking of innovations. One of those inventions was a pizza delivery bag. He worked with an upholsterer to design the pouch, which is believed to be one of the world’s first insulated pizza delivery bags. Who can forget their legendary old advertising jingle “967-11-11 call Pizza Pizza, hey, hey hey!”
His son-in-law, Paul Goddard, took over the company’s CEO role when Mr Overs passed away in 2010.
Supporting Local & Canadian Businesses
Pizza Pizza locally sources its toppings. Their mozzarella cheese is made with 100% Canadian milk, and the wheat in their dough is also 100% Canadian. They offer gluten-free and vegan options.
The company’s Slices for Smiles Foundation has raised millions for the Children’s Miracle Network. During the spring campaign, customers can order a Smile Pizza and a portion of the proceeds are donated to support children’s hospitals across the country.
From its modest beginnings in the original 300-square-foot store, the company has grown to over 750 quick-service pizza stores. Both owned and franchised, they have more than 5,000 employees across Canada under the Pizza Pizza and Pizza 73 brands.
Pizza Pizza Photos
Late 1960s to early 1970s – Pizza Pizza, the original store, is located at 68 Wellesley St E just west of Parliament St in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood of Toronto. From its modest beginnings, the company has grown to over 750 quick-service pizza stores (Courtesy of Pizza Pizza Ltd)
2023 –Pizza Pizza, the original store located at 68 Wellesley St E just west of Parliament St in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood of Toronto1972 – Looking southwest towards the corner of Wellesley St E and Parliament St in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood. Notice to the right of Mac’s Milk is Pizza Pizza’s original store at 68 Wellesley St E (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 31, Item 12)2020 – Looking southwest towards Jamestown Milk and the first Pizza Pizza location on Wellesley St E just west of Parliament StLate 1960s to early 1970s – Pizza Pizza’s original store opened in 1967 (Courtesy of Pizza Pizza Ltd)2020 – Looking southeast towards Pizza Pizza, the original store located in CabbagetownDate unknown – Michael Overs, the founder of Pizza Pizza, opened his first Pizza Pizza store on New Year’s Eve in 1967 (Courtesy of Pizza Pizza Ltd)1972 – Looking northeast towards Pizza Pizza, once located on Bloor St W, east of Spadina Rd in The Annex neighbourhood. Today, that store is located a few doors west (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 55, Item 7)1998 – Looking northwest towards Pizza Pizza, once located at Queen St W and Beverley St in the Entertainment District of Toronto (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1907, File 131, Item 12)June 21, 2001 – Pizza Pizza Canada Day event announcement with Mayor Mel Lastman (City of Toronto Archives, Series 2311, File 1356, Item 19)2020 – Looking southeast toward Pizza Pizza located at Danforth Ave and Broadview Ave in the North Riverdale neighbourhood2020 – Looking north from Bloor St W towards Pizza Pizza, at 328 Bloor St W just east of Spadina Rd in The Annex neighbourhood of Toronto2020 – Looking northeast from Wellesley St E and Church St towards Pizza Pizza in The Village neighbourhood2020 – Looking northeast towards Pizza Pizza located at the corner of Queen St W and West Lodge Ave in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto2020 – Looking southwest toward the corner of Dundas St E and Church St in the Garden District of Toronto. The building at 260 Church St was originally The Sterling Bank of Canada, then CIBC and later Pizza Pizza (which has since moved)2020 – Looking southwest toward Pizza Pizza (which has since moved) at the corner of Elm St and Yonge St in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto2022 – Pizza Pizza’s first store at 68 Wellesley St E, just west of Parliament St1989 – Pizza Pizza hot air balloon at the West Mall Fair (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 124, File 18, ID 278)Date unknown – A still from a vintage Pizza Pizza commercial “967-11-11 call Pizza Pizza, hey, hey hey!” (Courtesy of Pizza Pizza Ltd)Date unknown – A Pizza Pizza delivery pouch. The company’s founder, Mike Overs, is believed to have designed one of the world’s first insulated pizza delivery bags (Courtesy of Pizza Pizza Ltd)Date unknown – A vintage Pizza Pizza box. In the early days of the company, 90% of the business was delivery (Courtesy of Pizza Pizza Ltd)Date unknown – Pizza Pizza sign at the back of the Danforth Ave and Broadview Ave location (Courtesy of Pizza Pizza Ltd)
