Godfather's Pizza vs Johnnie's Pizza Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Godfather's Pizza vs Johnnie's Pizza including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Company Overviews

About Godfather's Pizza

Godfather's Pizza, home of the pizza pie piled high, has been serving up hot, fresh pizza pies since 1973. What began as a single restaurant in Omaha, Nebraska has grown to a chain that can be found in over 30 states. Over the years, Godfather's Pizza has mastered the art of making delicious pizza pies piled high with your favorite toppings, but still the Godfather is not satisfied. He demands that his crew continue perfecting pies and developing new pies for you to enjoy. The Godfather runs the family with one simple oath: "Pizza Pie Piled High or else.." What does the "or else" mean? The Godfather doesn't say and no one dares to ask!

About Johnnie's Pizza

At 16 years old, Bruce Jackson was flipping pizza at the original Johnny’s Pizza in Manlius, New York. He loved the business: serving piping hot pizza - always made with fresh, authentic ingredients - to happy customers, sitting down with the locals on a Friday night for a slice, or feeding the high school football team after a win. He saw opportunity. And he wanted to build his own. Most of our franchise operators are familiar with the feeling.

In three short years, Bruce opened a Johnny’s Pizza just off the Syracuse University campus with Johnny’s younger brother Rosario. After six years of success there, Bruce and a new business partner, Scott Allen, were ready for a move to warmer weather! Atlanta, Georgia is where they landed.

In 1977, Bruce and Scott wrote "Now Open” on a pizza box, stuck it in the front window of their storefront in Atlanta, and started selling pizza. One year later, they opened a second store. As entrepreneurs, they saw bigger potential in the brand and the business model they’d so carefully fine-tuned. In 1994, they officially began to franchise. In 2003, we needed a unique name to operate on a national level. So we gave Johnny a last name, and Johnny Brusco’s Pizza was born!

Now a new generation of leadership is guiding Johnny’s Pizza into the future. Bruce’s son, Luke, is expanding the business across the southeast and focusing on growth in dine-in, delivery and online ordering segments. We’re also focusing on ways to increase individual store volume growth, including new seasonal menu offerings and an expanded craft beer selection.