Shakey's Pizza
An American-founded pizza restaurant chain known for family dining, group occasions, live entertainment, and its large Philippine franchise network.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Shakey's Pizza is a pizza restaurant brand founded in Sacramento, California, in 1954 by Sherwood "Shakey" Johnson and Ed Plummer. It became one of the earliest franchised pizza chains in the United States and developed a distinctive restaurant format that combined pizza, beer, live music, and informal communal dining. Johnson's nickname came from nerve damage associated with malaria contracted during World War II. In the chain's early years, he personally played Dixieland jazz piano for customers and employed local musicians, making entertainment a central part of the dining experience rather than an occasional add-on. The first restaurant opened on April 30, 1954, in a converted grocery store at 57th and J Streets in Sacramento. Because the pizza ovens were not ready for the opening weekend, the business initially served beer and used the proceeds to purchase ingredients. A second location opened in Portland, Oregon, in 1956, followed by a restaurant in Albany, Oregon, in 1959. The Albany site was the first Shakey's building owned by the company and helped establish the recognizable architectural style associated with early parlors. The chain expanded rapidly through franchising and had hundreds of American locations by the late 1960s and early 1970s. Shakey's early identity was unusually entertainment-oriented for a pizza chain. Restaurants featured live jazz, piano or banjo music, communal picnic-style tables, and large windows through which customers could watch dough preparation, topping, and baking. Older menus included lyrics to barbershop songs for sing-alongs. This format attracted families, young people, and youth sports teams, particularly in Southern California. The brand's advertising captured this positioning with the line, "We serve fun at Shakey's ... also pizza." The company passed through several ownership changes. Johnson sold his interest in 1967, and Colorado Milling and Elevator acquired the remaining interest the following year. After Colorado Milling merged with Great Western Sugar Company, the chain became part of Great Western United Corporation. Great Western sold Shakey's to Hunt International Resources in 1974. Two franchisees acquired the chain in 1984, and Inno-Pacific Holdings of Singapore purchased it in 1989. During the Inno-Pacific period, the number of American locations declined substantially and many U.S. restaurants closed. Jacmar Companies, a California franchisee, acquired the brand in 2004 after becoming involved in litigation with some franchisees. The brand developed a particularly important international business in the Philippines. It entered the country in 1975 under San Miguel Corporation, initially benefiting from the association between pizza restaurants and San Miguel draft beer. San Miguel later sold the Philippine franchise in 1987 to International Family Food Services, Inc. (IFFSI), a company associated with the family of sports executive Leo Prieto. IFFSI expanded the chain and repositioned it over time. After a period in which the business had become more fast-food oriented, it was reworked as a family-oriented casual dining concept in 2003. In 2016, Century Pacific Group and Singapore-based GIC acquired majority ownership of IFFSI, while the Prieto family retained a minority interest. IFFSI changed its name to Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. in October 2016 and listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange in December of that year under the ticker PIZZA. The Philippine operating company also holds trademark rights covering various Asian and other territories, subject to exceptions and separate arrangements. It has pursued expansion beyond the Philippines, including a joint venture associated with Kuwait. The Philippine business also used sports sponsorship to strengthen the brand's family and community positioning. Shakey's became title sponsor of the Shakey's V-League in 2004 and remained associated with Philippine volleyball until 2017. The Shakey's Super League was launched in 2022, marking a return to prominent volleyball sponsorship. In the United States, the brand now has a much smaller footprint concentrated mainly in California, with a remaining location in Washington after the Renton restaurant closed in January 2025. The chain continues to operate internationally through a combination of company, franchise, and territory-specific ownership structures.
History
Shakey's Pizza began in Sacramento, California, on April 30, 1954, when Sherwood "Shakey" Johnson and Ed Plummer opened a converted grocery store as a pizza parlor. The restaurant's earliest identity combined food with entertainment. Johnson played Dixieland piano, and the business hired musicians from the local jazz scene. The live-music format helped make the restaurant a regional attraction and influenced the development of traditional jazz culture in Sacramento. The name "Shakey" referred to Johnson's post-malaria nerve damage from his World War II service. The opening weekend preceded completion of the pizza ovens, so the restaurant initially sold beer and used the proceeds to buy pizza ingredients. Once operating normally, Shakey's developed a highly visible preparation format: customers could watch dough being shaped, sauce and toppings being added, and pizzas entering the oven. Long communal tables accommodated families and youth sports groups, while music, sing-alongs, and beer reinforced the chain's informal social character. Expansion began with a Portland, Oregon, restaurant in 1956 and an Albany, Oregon, location in 1959. The Albany restaurant was the first Shakey's building owned by the business and the first purpose-built example of the architectural style associated with the chain. Franchising drove rapid growth, and the chain reached hundreds of American locations by the late 1960s. Johnson sold his half in 1967 to Colorado Milling and Elevator, which acquired Ed Plummer's interest in 1968. Following a corporate merger, Shakey's became part of Great Western United Corporation, which sold it to Hunt International Resources in 1974. At its peak, the American chain was reported to have approximately 500 locations. Ownership changed again in 1984, when two franchisees bought the chain, and in 1989, when it was sold to Singapore-based Inno-Pacific Holdings. By then the number of franchises had fallen to about 221. Many remaining U.S. stores closed during the Inno-Pacific period, and some franchisees later pursued legal action. Before that litigation reached trial, Jacmar Companies of Alhambra, California, acquired Shakey's in 2004. Jacmar had previously operated 19 Shakey's restaurants as a franchisee. International expansion started with Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1968, followed by Japan in 1973 and the Philippines in 1975. The Philippine business became the brand's most significant international operation. San Miguel Corporation introduced Shakey's in the country, beginning with a Makati Avenue restaurant and using the format's beer, music, and casual-dining associations. San Miguel sold the franchise in 1987 to IFFSI, which expanded the network and later repositioned it as a family-oriented casual dining brand in 2003 after a more fast-food-oriented phase. The Philippine company became increasingly independent as a brand operator. In 2016, Century Pacific Group and GIC acquired majority shares in IFFSI, with the Prieto family retaining a minority stake. IFFSI was renamed Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. and listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange under PIZZA. The company holds Shakey's trademark rights in the Philippines and a number of other territories, while Japan and certain other markets have separate arrangements. It has also pursued regional development, including a Kuwait joint venture. Sports marketing became an important part of the Philippine brand. Shakey's partnered with Sports Vision in 2004 to launch the Shakey's V-League, which later evolved into the Premier Volleyball League. The title sponsorship continued through 2017. In 2022, the company launched the Shakey's Super League, renewing its association with Philippine volleyball and youth-oriented community engagement. The U.S. presence contracted to a regional network concentrated primarily in California, with a small Washington presence. U.S. restaurants closed their dining rooms in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic while continuing takeout operations; dining rooms reopened in May 2021. The Renton, Washington, location closed in January 2025. The brand remains active through its U.S. and international operations, with the Philippines serving as its largest and most strategically developed market.
- 2024
U.S. subsidiary is incorporated
[1]SPAVI announced a U.S. subsidiary for owning, operating, and franchising restaurants in the American market.
- 2022
Shakey's Super League launches
[1]The Philippine brand formally launched the Shakey's Super League, renewing its volleyball association.
- 2021
U.S. dining rooms reopen
[1]Dining-room service resumed in May after the pandemic-related closure period.
- 2020
COVID-19 dining-room closures
[1]U.S. dining rooms closed in March during the pandemic, while takeout remained available.
- 2016
SPAVI is formed and listed
[1]Century Pacific Group and GIC acquired majority ownership of IFFSI; the company became Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. and listed under PIZZA.
- 2004
Jacmar Companies acquires the brand
[1]Jacmar Companies acquired Shakey's after operating as a major franchisee and following franchisee litigation during the prior ownership period.
- 2003
Philippine business adopts a family-oriented casual dining format
[1]The Philippine operation was repositioned after an earlier period with a more fast-food-oriented format.
- 1989
Inno-Pacific acquires the chain
[1]Singapore-based Inno-Pacific Holdings acquired Shakey's as the U.S. network continued to contract.
- 1987
Philippine franchise transfers to IFFSI
[1]San Miguel sold the Philippine franchise to International Family Food Services, Inc.
- 1975
Entry into the Philippines
[1]San Miguel Corporation introduced the brand to the Philippines.
Products and positioning
A family-friendly, casual pizza restaurant offering group dining, recognizable side dishes, and an entertainment-led experience rooted in the brand's historic association with live music.
Main course · 1954
Pizza
Shakey's core offering is American-style pizza served in a casual, family-oriented restaurant setting. Historically, the brand emphasized visible preparation, allowing diners to watch dough being shaped, topped, and baked. The menu includes branded specialty pizzas such as Shakey's Special, alongside customizable and group-oriented formats.
Side dish
Mojo Potatoes
Mojo Potatoes are a signature Shakey's side dish associated particularly with the chain's Philippine menu. They complement pizza and other group meals and help distinguish the brand from pizza competitors whose menus focus more narrowly on pizza and standard fries.
Main course and side
Chicken
Fried chicken and related chicken offerings broaden Shakey's menu beyond pizza and support family, sharing, and group occasions. Chicken is commonly paired with pizza, potatoes, and beverages in combination meals.
Side dishes
Salads and fries
Salads and fries provide additional meal options and sides for individual diners and groups. Their role is to complete the casual family-meal format rather than serve as the primary identity of the chain.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Shakey's Super League
Philippines
The brand launched the Shakey's Super League in August 2022, reviving its association with Philippine volleyball after the earlier V-League sponsorship.
Outcome. The initiative restored Shakey's visibility as a volleyball title sponsor and community-oriented family brand.
- 2004Shakey's V-League sponsorship
Philippines
Shakey's partnered with Sports Vision to launch the Shakey's V-League, connecting the restaurant brand with Philippine volleyball and youth-oriented sports culture.
Outcome. The sponsorship continued through 2017 and became one of the brand's most prominent Philippine marketing platforms.
- 1970We serve fun at Shakey's ... also pizza
United States
The advertising motto presented Shakey's as an entertainment and social destination as well as a pizza restaurant, reinforcing its appeal to families, young people, and youth sports groups.
Outcome. The slogan summarized the chain's distinctive experiential positioning during its period of broad U.S. expansion.
- 1954Live music and jazz parlor format
United States
Shakey's built its early brand identity around Dixieland jazz, piano, banjo, and other live entertainment performed while customers ate. The approach differentiated the chain from conventional restaurants and helped establish its promise of combining food with fun.
Outcome. The entertainment-led format became a defining part of the early brand and contributed to the chain's local and regional recognition.
Brand decisions
2024
Creation of a U.S. operating subsidiaryStrategyBackground
The brand's U.S. footprint had contracted substantially compared with its historical peak.
Action taken
Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures announced the incorporation of an American subsidiary to own, operate, and franchise U.S. restaurants.
Aftermath
The move indicated an intention to establish a more direct structure for future U.S. operations and franchising.
2020
Temporary closure of U.S. dining rooms during COVID-19StrategyBackground
Restaurants responded to public-health restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Action taken
U.S. dining rooms closed in mid-March while takeout service continued.
Aftermath
Dining rooms reopened in May 2021.
2016
Century Pacific Group and GIC acquire majority control of IFFSIM&ABackground
IFFSI was the principal operator of Shakey's in the Philippines and controlled trademark rights in several territories.
Action taken
Century Pacific Group and Singapore-based GIC Private Limited acquired majority shares, while the Prieto family retained a minority interest.
Aftermath
IFFSI changed its name to Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. and listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange in December 2016.
2004
Jacmar Companies acquires Shakey'sM&ABackground
Some franchisees had brought legal claims against Inno-Pacific, but the case had not reached trial before the sale.
Action taken
Jacmar Companies, already a franchisee of 19 Shakey's restaurants, acquired the chain.
Aftermath
Ownership returned to a company with substantial direct operating experience in the Shakey's system.
2003
Philippine business repositions as family-oriented casual diningStrategyBackground
The Philippine operation had evolved toward a predominantly fast-food format during the 1990s.
Action taken
IFFSI reengineered the brand around family-oriented casual dining.
Aftermath
The repositioning aligned the Philippine business more closely with Shakey's historic group-dining and family-entertainment identity.
1989
Inno-Pacific Holdings acquires Shakey'sM&ABackground
The U.S. franchise network had declined to roughly 221 locations by this period.
Action taken
Two franchisees sold the chain to Singapore-based Inno-Pacific Holdings.
Aftermath
Most remaining U.S. locations closed during Inno-Pacific's ownership, and some franchisees later pursued legal action.
1987
San Miguel transfers the Philippine franchiseM&ABackground
San Miguel had expanded Shakey's in the Philippines but reportedly faced difficulty maintaining consistency across branches.
Action taken
San Miguel sold the Philippine franchise to International Family Food Services, Inc.
Aftermath
IFFSI became the principal Philippine operator and later developed the market into the brand's largest international network.
1974
Great Western sells Shakey's to Hunt International ResourcesM&ABackground
Shakey's was part of Great Western United Corporation following the merger of Colorado Milling and Elevator with Great Western Sugar Company.
Action taken
Great Western transferred ownership of the restaurant chain to Hunt International Resources.
Aftermath
The chain continued operating with a large U.S. network, reportedly numbering approximately 500 stores at the time.
1967
Johnson sells his half of Shakey'sM&ABackground
The founding business had expanded substantially through franchising and attracted corporate ownership interest.
Action taken
Sherwood Johnson sold his 50 percent interest to Colorado Milling and Elevator.
Aftermath
Colorado Milling and Elevator acquired Ed Plummer's interest the following year, placing the chain under full corporate ownership.
Reported purchase price for Johnson's half. $3 million (1967)
Recent events
- 2025
Renton, Washington Shakey's location closes[1]
Other
The Renton restaurant closed on January 20, 2025, leaving Pasco as the only remaining Shakey's location in Washington according to the reference material.
- 2024
Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures incorporates a U.S. subsidiary[1]
Other
SPAVI announced the incorporation of an American subsidiary intended to own, operate, and franchise Shakey's restaurants in the United States.
- 2022
Shakey's returns to Philippine volleyball sponsorship with the Super League[1]
Campaign
The Shakey's Super League was formally launched in August 2022, following the brand's earlier title sponsorship of the Shakey's V-League.
- 2016
Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures changes its corporate identity after majority investment[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Century Pacific Group and GIC acquired majority shares in IFFSI, which subsequently adopted the name Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures Inc.
- 2016
Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures lists on the Philippine Stock Exchange[1]
Other
The Philippine operating company became publicly traded under the ticker PIZZA on December 15, 2016.
Sources3 sources
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