If you have never heard of MOD Pizza or walked into one, listen up and go now! MOD Pizza serves pizza any way you want it and for a flat price. You want a pizza with all 30+ toppings offered or a simple cheese pizza (well, there are many cheese choices so ‘simple’ is in the eye…
“Kind” is not a word one might use to describe the experiences of Daniel Lubetzky’s father. As a Holocaust survivor, he passed down to his son, Daniel, a set of values that inspired not just a business model, but a way of life. A dedication to showing one’s fellow man and woman the respect a…
You’ll find them in the freezer section, but you won’t be able to locate them in a dictionary—of any language. Not Germanic in origin or even Danish as their creators might have intended, the name Häagen-Dazs is in fact just two made up words smashed together with a hyphen. Something tells us that, with a…
Some folks really need a caffeine boost to get moving, but not everyone likes the taste of coffee and yet others want a health benefit in what they consume. Ta-da! The energy drink is born! Loaded with water, sugar, caffeine, taurine, inositol, and B-vitamins, Red Bull “gives wings to people who want to be mentally…
Panda Express is the biggest Chinese fast food restaurant chain in the United States. They are especially famous for their chow mein and orange chicken – the latter of which sells up to 80 million pounds a year, or four pieces for every man, woman and child who lives in the United States. Most of…
At over 50 years old, Blimpie is America’s oldest submarine sandwich chain. Featuring huge classic subs, fresh ingredients, and a unique name, it’s a chain that’s beloved by many – though it’s certainly seen better days. At its prime, Blimpie had nearly 2000 locations. Today, it’s down to only 304 in the United States. The…
The origin of Applebee’s name is a somewhat difficult history to unravel. Almost nothing is mentioned about it on their website and, despite what most people think, the casual dining chain is not named after any of the founders of the business. Although the original name, which was much longer and more whimsical, did contain…
In 1993, Steve Ells, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, had the bright idea that burritos and tacos could be a million-dollar industry. Besides receiving his pedigree from one of the best cooking schools in the country, Ells was also a sous chef for one of the founders of California cuisine, Jeremiah Tower…
Ice cream is ice cream. Right? Well, sure it is – unless it’s Dairy Queen. Can you take a cup of ice cream and turn it upside down without all of that delicious goodness ending up on the floor? No? Well, you can if it’s a Dairy Queen treat. In fact, in Texas, Louisiana, and Canada,…
The small college town of Ypsilanti, Michigan might not be the first place you’d imagine a multibillion-dollar food franchise beginning, but that’s exactly where Domino’s started back in 1963. The original Domino’s location was located on 507 Cross Street in Ypsilanti (known locally as Ypsi) and was owned by Dominick DiVarti. The store was located…