Pizza Inn
Pizza Inn is a Texas-founded restaurant chain and international franchise brand specializing in American-style pan pizza, pasta, and side dishes.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Pizza Inn is a restaurant chain and franchise brand headquartered in The Colony, a suburb of Dallas, Texas. The business traces its origin to 1958, when Texas brothers F. J. (Joe) Spillman and R. L. Spillman opened the first Pizza Inn restaurant in Dallas. From that local beginning, the company developed into a broad U.S. pizza franchise system with a concentration in the Southern United States and an international franchising business. The brand's core proposition is American-style pizza served in a casual restaurant setting. Its traditional menu has centered on pan pizza, complemented by pasta and side dishes. Pizza Inn has historically used both conventional restaurants and other distribution formats, including international franchise locations and airport kiosks. At its peak, the chain had more than 500 locations across 20 U.S. states. The reference material reports that, as of June 28, 2020, the system comprised 252 U.S. stores, primarily in Southern towns, together with 38 international stores. These figures describe a particular point in time rather than a current store count. Pizza Inn's brand development has included promotional partnerships and portfolio diversification. During the mid-1980s, the company ran a televised advertising relationship involving professional wrestling's Von Erich family, with Kerry, Kevin, and Mike Von Erich appearing in commercials. In 2011, the company introduced Pie Five Pizza, a separate fast-casual concept designed around customizable pizzas prepared in approximately five minutes. The first Pie Five location opened in Fort Worth, Texas, and the concept expanded to five Fort Worth-area locations by the end of that year and 31 locations by January 2015, according to the cited reference material. The company's corporate identity also changed as its portfolio broadened. Pizza Inn Holdings, the publicly traded parent at the time, adopted the name Rave Restaurant Group in January 2015 while Pie Five locations were increasing. The rebranding placed Pizza Inn alongside Pie Five within a multi-brand restaurant company rather than presenting the parent as a single-brand enterprise. Pizza Inn subsequently extended its physical presence into nontraditional venues: in May 2018, Rave Restaurant Group opened its first PIE by Pizza Inn Express kiosk at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport in partnership with Delaware North. The chain's operating history also includes international expansion. In October 2011, Pizza Inn opened the first of five planned Chinese locations in Hangzhou. The brand's international footprint has otherwise been represented through franchise operations rather than a single uniform global company-owned network. Pizza Inn faced the same trading pressures as many restaurant businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company reported significant comparative-sales declines in the quarters ending June 28 and September 27, 2020, followed by an improvement in the period ending December 27. The available reference describes domestic same-store sales of $15.46 million in that period, down from $18.95 million in the comparable period, while characterizing the quarter as the chain's strongest since the pandemic began. Because these figures are historical and tied to a specific reporting period, they should not be interpreted as current performance. In January 2021, Pizza Inn and its leadership also attracted public attention after issuing a statement questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 U.S. presidential election and advocating changes to voting procedures. The statement said it was not calling for the election results to be overturned, but argued against what it called hasty congressional certification and supported voter identification, removal of electronic voting machines, and elimination of mail-in ballots. The statement was reportedly later removed from the PR Newswire site while remaining available on the company's Facebook page. This episode became a notable example of a restaurant brand entering a politically contentious public debate.
History
Pizza Inn began in Dallas, Texas, in 1958, when brothers F. J. (Joe) Spillman and R. L. Spillman opened the first restaurant under the Pizza Inn name. The business developed around an American casual-dining model, with pan pizza as its principal product and pasta and side dishes as supporting menu categories. Its later growth relied substantially on franchising, allowing the brand to expand beyond its original Texas base while retaining a strong presence in Southern U.S. markets. By the height of its expansion, Pizza Inn had more than 500 locations in 20 states. The chain's subsequent system became smaller than that peak: the cited reference records 252 U.S. stores and 38 international stores as of June 28, 2020. The international business included franchise activity in multiple markets. In October 2011, Pizza Inn opened the first of five planned locations in Hangzhou, China, marking a visible step in the brand's overseas development. Marketing has formed part of Pizza Inn's public identity. In the mid-1980s, the company worked with the Von Erich family on a series of television commercials. Kerry Von Erich, Kevin Von Erich, and Mike Von Erich appeared in the advertisements, linking the restaurant brand to a prominent professional-wrestling family associated with Texas. The company also pursued a second restaurant concept aimed at a faster and more customizable experience. In June 2011, it launched Pie Five Pizza in Fort Worth. Customers could customize pizzas intended to be prepared in about five minutes. Five locations operated in the Fort Worth area by the end of 2011, and the concept had reached 31 locations by January 2015 according to the cited material. The expansion of Pie Five influenced the structure and identity of the parent company. Randy Gier, formerly associated with PepsiCo and Yum! Brands, joined Pizza Inn in 2012 and served as chief executive until 2016. On January 9, 2015, Pizza Inn Holdings changed its name to Rave Restaurant Group and adopted the ticker RAVE, replacing the previous Pizza Inn Holdings identity and ticker. The change reflected the parent company's development as a portfolio business containing both Pizza Inn and Pie Five rather than a company centered solely on the original pizza chain. Rave later experimented with smaller, nontraditional Pizza Inn formats. In May 2018, it opened the first PIE by Pizza Inn Express kiosk at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport with Delaware North. This initiative extended the brand into an airport setting and demonstrated an effort to use formats other than full-sized restaurants. The COVID-19 pandemic affected Pizza Inn's sales performance. Comparative sales fell sharply in the quarters ending June 28 and September 27, 2020. The period ending December 27 showed an improvement compared with those earlier pandemic periods, although the cited domestic same-store sales figure was still lower than the corresponding prior-period figure. The available material characterizes that quarter as the chain's best-performing quarter since the pandemic began. In January 2021, the company and its leadership became involved in controversy after releasing a statement about the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The statement expressed concern about confidence in the election system, opposed what it described as rushed congressional certification, and endorsed policy positions including voter identification and restrictions on electronic and mail voting. Although the statement said it was not advocating reversal of the election outcome, its publication associated Pizza Inn with a highly polarized political issue. The release was reportedly removed from PR Newswire after the January 6 events but remained available through the company's Facebook page. The episode is significant in Pizza Inn's history because it extended public discussion of the brand beyond foodservice, franchising, and restaurant operations.
- 2021
Election-related corporate statement
[1]Pizza Inn and its leadership issued a controversial statement questioning aspects of the 2020 U.S. election process and proposing voting-law changes.
- 2020
Pandemic-era store and sales reference point
[1]The cited reference recorded 252 U.S. stores and 38 international stores as of June 28, 2020, while also documenting substantial pandemic-era comparative-sales declines.
- 2018
PIE by Pizza Inn Express kiosk opens
[1]The first PIE by Pizza Inn Express kiosk opened at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport through a partnership with Delaware North.
- 2015
Parent company adopts Rave Restaurant Group name
[1]Pizza Inn Holdings rebranded as Rave Restaurant Group and began trading under the RAVE ticker as the Pie Five portfolio expanded.
- 2011
Pie Five Pizza launches
[1]Pizza Inn launched the fast-casual Pie Five Pizza concept in Fort Worth, emphasizing customizable pizzas prepared in approximately five minutes.
- 2011
First Hangzhou location opens
[1]Pizza Inn opened the first of five planned Chinese locations in Hangzhou.
- 1985
Von Erich family advertising partnership
[1]During the mid-1980s, Kerry, Kevin, and Mike Von Erich appeared in a series of Pizza Inn television commercials.
- 1958
First Pizza Inn opens in Dallas
[1]Brothers F. J. (Joe) Spillman and R. L. Spillman opened the first Pizza Inn restaurant in Dallas, Texas.
Products and positioning
A casual, franchise-oriented American pizza brand built around pan pizza, accessible family dining, pasta, and side dishes, with additional reach through international franchises and nontraditional kiosk formats.
Pizza · 1958
Pizza Inn pan pizza
The traditional core of the Pizza Inn menu is American-style pan pizza. The product anchors the brand's casual restaurant and franchise identity and is typically presented alongside pasta and side dishes. The available reference does not provide a complete current menu or detailed specifications for crusts, toppings, or portion formats.
Restaurant menu
Pizza Inn pasta and side dishes
Pizza Inn restaurants complement pizza with pasta and side dishes, giving the chain a broader American casual-dining menu than a pizza-only operator. The cited material identifies these categories as part of the brand's specialization but does not enumerate the full current assortment.
Fast-casual pizza concept · 2011
Pie Five Pizza
Pie Five Pizza was launched by Pizza Inn in 2011 as a separate fast-casual concept. It emphasized customer-customized pizzas prepared in approximately five minutes. The concept expanded in the Fort Worth area and later became an important part of the broader Rave Restaurant Group portfolio.
Airport kiosk · 2018
PIE by Pizza Inn Express
PIE by Pizza Inn Express is a smaller Pizza Inn-branded kiosk format intended for high-traffic venues. The first cited location opened at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport in 2018 through a partnership with Delaware North. The available material does not establish the current number of kiosks.
Controversies
2021
Controversial statement on the 2020 U.S. presidential election
On January 5, 2021, Pizza Inn released a statement expressing concern about confidence in the 2020 U.S. election, criticizing what it characterized as hasty congressional certification, and supporting voter identification, removal of electronic voting machines, and elimination of mail-in ballots. The statement said it was not advocating that the election be overturned. It was reportedly later removed from PR Newswire while remaining accessible on the company's Facebook page.
Marketing campaigns
- 1985Von Erich television commercials
United States
Pizza Inn used a series of television commercials featuring Kerry Von Erich, Kevin Von Erich, and Mike Von Erich of the Von Erich family. The campaign connected the brand with a well-known Texas professional-wrestling family.
Outcome. The reference records the campaign as a notable mid-1980s promotional partnership but does not provide audience, sales, or return-on-investment results.
Brand decisions
2020
Pandemic response and performance reportingOtherBackground
Pizza Inn operated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the cited reference records substantial comparative-sales declines in the quarters ending June 28 and September 27, 2020.
Action taken
The company reported improved performance in the period ending December 27, 2020, describing it as its strongest quarter since the pandemic began.
Aftermath
Domestic same-store sales were still reported below the comparable prior-period figure, and the available material does not establish a full recovery or current performance.
Domestic same-store sales. $18.95 million → $15.46 million (Period ending December 27, 2020, compared with the corresponding prior period)
2018
Expansion into airport kiosk serviceStrategyBackground
The company explored nontraditional formats that could serve customers in high-traffic locations without relying solely on full-service restaurants.
Action taken
Rave Restaurant Group opened its first PIE by Pizza Inn Express kiosk at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport with Delaware North.
Aftermath
The initiative established an airport-based format, but the available material does not provide later kiosk counts or financial results.
2015
Rebranding of Pizza Inn Holdings as Rave Restaurant GroupStrategyBackground
The parent company was expanding its portfolio beyond the original Pizza Inn chain as Pie Five locations increased.
Action taken
Pizza Inn Holdings changed its corporate name to Rave Restaurant Group and adopted the RAVE ticker.
Aftermath
Pizza Inn remained a brand within the renamed multi-concept restaurant group.
2011
Launch of Pie Five PizzaProduct launchBackground
Pizza Inn sought to add a fast-casual concept alongside its established restaurant chain, with an emphasis on customization and rapid preparation.
Action taken
The company opened the first Pie Five Pizza location in Fort Worth, Texas, offering customizable pizzas intended to be made in approximately five minutes.
Aftermath
The concept reached five Fort Worth-area locations by the end of 2011 and 31 locations by January 2015, according to the cited reference.
Recent events
- 2021
Pizza Inn reports pandemic-era sales improvement[1]
Other · Pricing
Pizza Inn reported that domestic same-store sales had improved relative to earlier pandemic quarters in the period ending December 27, 2020, although the cited figures remained below the comparable prior-period level.
- 2018
Pizza Inn opens airport kiosk concept with Delaware North[1]
Product launch
Rave Restaurant Group opened the first PIE by Pizza Inn Express kiosk at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport in partnership with Delaware North.
- 2015
Pizza Inn Holdings becomes Rave Restaurant Group[1]
M&A
The publicly traded parent changed its corporate name from Pizza Inn Holdings to Rave Restaurant Group as the Pie Five concept grew, placing Pizza Inn within a broader restaurant portfolio.
- 2012
Randy Gier joins Pizza Inn[1]
Leadership change
Former PepsiCo and Yum! Brands executive Randy Gier joined the company and served as chief executive through 2016.
- 2011
Pizza Inn launches Pie Five Pizza fast-casual concept[1]
Product launch
Pizza Inn introduced Pie Five Pizza in Fort Worth, Texas. The concept focused on customizable pizzas prepared in approximately five minutes and expanded to five Fort Worth-area locations by the end of the year.
- 2011
Pizza Inn opens first planned Chinese location in Hangzhou[1]
Other
The brand opened the first of five planned Pizza Inn locations in China, extending its international franchise presence into Hangzhou.
Sources4 sources
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