At the age of 93, Buddy LaRosa, the founder of LaRosa’s Pizzeria, finds little need to immerse himself in the day-to-day operations of his business. Yet, on a rainy Monday last week, he was spotted at the Westwood headquarters of LaRosa’s Pizzeria, a site that also accommodates the call center for the Cincinnati pizza chain. As he was leaving the parking lot, Buddy encountered a man he didn’t recognize. Given the rain, Buddy offered the stranger a ride, initiating a conversation that highlighted his approachable nature and his commitment to his employees.
Buddy LaRosa inquired, “Hey, do you know who I am?” To which the employee responded, “Yeah, you’re Mr. LaRosa, but we’ve never met.” This encounter allowed them to engage in a conversation, showcasing Buddy’s genuine interest in connecting with his staff, a trait he attributes to his success.
On March 24, the LaRosa family is set to celebrate an impressive milestone: 70 years of business. Buddy and his son, Mike, shared insights into their seven-decade-long journey and the secrets behind their success on The Enquirer’s “That’s so Cincinnati” podcast.
LaRosa’s was among the first three pizzerias to open in Cincinnati, launching as Papa Gino’s in 1954. Despite the competition from Capri Pizza, which opened in 1949, and Pasquale’s, which started around the same time as LaRosa’s, Buddy LaRosa emerged victorious in what could be dubbed the Cincinnati pizza battle. Today, LaRosa’s is a $180 million enterprise with 65 locations, a testament to Buddy’s triumph, who is also renowned as a boxing trainer.
While the competition was mostly friendly, Buddy did not take kindly to betrayal. After feeling betrayed by a friend who opened a Pizza Hut franchise, Buddy switched to Coke products as a form of revenge when Pizza Hut was acquired by Pepsi. Despite such vendettas, Buddy strives to be a benevolent competitor. He makes it a point to introduce himself to new pizzeria owners in his area, offering assistance with anything except his sauce and dough. His aim is to maintain a close yet competitive relationship, always keen to understand their operations.
Buddy LaRosa, a devout Catholic, also attributes part of his success to divine intervention. He continues to make the sign of the cross and bless the dough during his visits to his pizzerias. “Whenever there is a big pile of dough, I always tell the dough boys to put the cross on it,” he says, followed by his unique blessing of blowing kisses at the dough.
Mike LaRosa believes that the true secret to LaRosa’s success lies in caring. “Dad’s influence on all of us was to work harder, care more, do things better, out-compete the competitor. This has been a 70-year journey because his ‘good, better, best’ mindset is really in our company DNA,” Mike LaRosa explained.
Missed last week’s episode? No worries. Listen here. Follow Cincinnati.com editor Beryl Love on X @beryllove and City Hall reporter Sharon Coolidge @SharonCoolidge.